Just In Case You Forgot..

How massively HUGE I was this time last year...here is a frightening picture to remind you.

Yeah...This photo was taken on Christmas Eve last year and exactly one week later Miss M was born. I honestly don't think I could have gotten any bigger. Seriously....That ain't right. I mean look how small my boobs looks??! That right there tells you how big my stomach was. Okay, well maybe they dont look that small...but still!

See this is why we take belly shots...so you can look back one day and say OMG, I was HUGE! 

Body After Baby (# 2)

After Kay was born I was extremely lucky to pretty much bounce back to my normal size/shape within 5 months of her being born. I only got two teeny teeny tiny stretchmarks near my belly button...I mean so tiny that they weren't noticeable AT ALL. Very small. No saggy skin, no floppy boobs (thanks to implants), and no post partum pooch. I was lucky! But I was also young...21 to be exact. The whole time I was TTC and pregnant with Miss M I often wondered what my body (specifically my stomach) would look like after baby #2. Would it look the same? Would I bounce right back again? Would it be worse because the skin had now been stretched out twice? Would I need a tummy tuck? Would I get more stretch marks, or get luck like the first time? So.many.questions. that no one could answer!

I would often ask other mother's of two or more kids what kind of damage # 2 left behind, or if it was the same as after #1. Many people thought I would still be okay since I got so lucky the first time. A few would say that's it was # 2 that did them in. What would I be like? Only time would tell....

Well here I am almost 12 months post partum with baby # 2 and  I can safely say now I know. It did take a much bigger toll on my physically this time around. I was golden after # 1....perfect.....no saggy skin, no pooch, now not so much. Now I have the typical mommy problems that I managed to escape with Kay. I have much more of a pooch, my stomach skin is saggy and stretched, and I did get more stretch marks on my lower abdomen making the lower part of my stomach a wrinkly mess. I always say that my belly button needs a "lift" because it hovers, and I don't have that cute little innie belly button I once had (although that went away a little after baby # 1, just got worse this time around and I've had 2 previous belly button piercing so I don't think that helps the situation either). I hate it!! Body after baby number 2 is not the same! Number 2 really can wreck havoc on the body. It all been stretched out before, so it doesn't quite bounce back the same like after the first one. It's been harder and slower to loose the weight and your older, which doesn't help.  

So in efforts to keep it real and because I would have loved to see what another woman's stomach looked like after baby # 2, I am going to let my guard down and show what my stomach looks like now. After baby # 2. Here it is....No spray tan, still 10 pounds above my goal weight with my saggy belly button, and standing in a very flattering position....

Now don't get me wrong...I know it could be MUCH WORSE. Thankfully, I don't need a tummy tuck (although I could use a mini one, however so not worth it). And I do exercise 4-6 days per week, but no amount of exercise to take away saggy skin and separated abdominal muscles. None. It really was baby # 2 that ruined me. But I'll take it. But only because she's so darn cute.....

It's all worth it and more!!

Let's Talk C-Sections

Because I want you know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about c-sections. Coming from someone who has done it both ways (Kay was born vaginally and little M via c-section). I feel like I have some experience.

From the start of my pregnancy with Miss M, the only thing I knew for sure was that I did NOT want a c-section, but yet throughout my whole pregnancy it seems to haunt me. Every time they would bring up the "C" word as I dubbed it, I barely skinned by. She was breech (we talked about the C word) and then she flipped at 34 weeks. They thought she was big (we talked about the C word), until a growth u/s at 38 weeks. I don't know, it seemed like it just kept being brought up, or maybe I was just paranoid. I talked about it here, here, and here.

I should say that I didn't not want to have a c-section because I had this great, easy, painless vaginal birth the first time around, because that was not the case at all. It was complete and utter HELL. By far the most pain I have ever endured in my entire life. During the course of those 11 hours I threatened suicide, to hold my breath until I got pain meds, and asked to just be knocked out because I couldn't take it anymore. I tell people all the time that a gorilla could haven given me my epidural because I didn't even look at the guy...JUST GIVE ME MY MEDS!

All that and I still didn't want a c section this time. I don't know why, but I just didn't. I knew the recovery would be longer, that I didn't want to be cut open, and that I didn't want to stay at the hospital 4-5 days. People talk about c sections these days like its no big deal, but in reality it is major abdominal surgery.

So when my water broke that day, at the grocery store no less, I pretty much was bracing for a normal (vaginal) delivery. Except baby M had other ideas....16 hours later I was being wheeled into the OR. I never got to experience labor, never got to scream expletives, or squeeze my husbands hand, or hear the words PUUUUSHHHHH. I feel like I got jipted. Thank god I have done it once before, or else I'd be really upset. Don't get me wrong, I was willing to do whatever got her here safely, but c-section was not my cup of tea.

The actual c-section itself was not bad at all. It was a lot of tugging and pulling and weird pinches, etc. Minus the shaking for the super dose of epidural, I was okay. It was the long recovery that was my least favorite part.

I had a amazing team of doctors and nurses, I loved the hospital and my time spent there (one of the best), and had a completely normal delivery and recovery, no compliatacitons, a text book c section. But I was completely oblivious to exactly how long the recovery would be.

First, for the first 24 hours after a c section you have to not only keep the catheter in and pee in a bag, but also your IV. Not cool. Oh and don't forgot the air things on your calf's going off every 15 minutes to prevent blood clots. Not cool either. 24 hours after a normal vag birth you are being wheeled out to your car, 24 hours after a c-section finally getting to pee on your own. YAY. After a c section you are stuck on a modified diet the first 2 days, or until you start passing gas. Another YAY. 15 minutes after I got Kay out I was eating fried chicken and potatoes! Two totally different worlds.

Then walking, getting in and out of bed, coughing, laughing, sneezing and pooping are all a big challenge. Yes I realize this is the case with a vag birth too, but your vag is made for this stuff. It heals much quicker.  Once I was home I slept sitting in a chair for the first 5 days because getting in and out of bed was not easy. I needed help to do everything the first 2 weeks, where as with a vag birth after a few days, besides some soreness and swelling your alright! Keep in mind I was up walking around within hours after my c section too, I did help! Then, for 3-4 more weeks, I experienced intense zaps of a burning pain sensation at the incision site (all normal), and it hurt wearing regular pants and certain underwear for the longest time because of the incision.  

And here I am today at 5 month, FIVE MONTHS postpartum, and I still am ultra sensitive in certain spots above my incision line. I still have some numbness, and up until a month ago it still felt very sensitive to bend at the waist in jeans.

I have found the people who say c sections are not so bad, or that they would totally do it again, are the ones who have only had a c-sections. They have never experienced a regular birth so they have nothing to compare it too! And I'm sure there are some who feel other wise, but that has been my experience so far.

I don't want to scare anyone, but share the facts coming from one who has done it both ways. And again I want to say that I did have a great experience, a great team of nurses, and had a perfect recovery! In the end, I was willing to do anything to get my baby here safely. C section or not. I'd say it was defiantly one of those things that you don't truly know about until you experience it. Now having done it both which would I chose? A vaginal birth, hands down. Yes, it was worse initially, but that all goes away. I could go on without experiencing labor pains again (or the ring of fire!), but it was the length of recovery after a c section that I was not prepared for.

6 Weeks

Wednesday I had my 6 week postpartum appointment. It went well, incision healed perfectly, uterus is back to normal, I have lost all but 5 pounds of my pregnancy weight (note: not IF weight, just the weight I gained while I was PG. Still very far from my goal), and best of all....I have been released from all restrictions! That means back to the gym and back in the sack if ya know what I mean ; ) So I jumped right back in the saddle and headed to the gym the next morning and went for my first PP brazilian wax that afternoon. Yes, I am a brave woman. But she was very careful around my incision and I trust her, I mean this woman has seen more of my vag than even I have over the last 5 years.

My first PP workout went great! Mentally I still feel capable of jumping back into my old routine, and I had to keep reminding myself that I did just have a c-section and need to take it sloooow. So that's what I did and it felt GREAT to get my heart pumping and feel the burn again! I biked 5 miles and did some shoulder/back weights. So now I can really focus on getting back into pre-pregnancy shape.

Miss M turned 6 weeks old on Thursday and boy has she grown like a little weed the last 2 weeks it seems!!

-She started wearing size 1 diapers
-Most of her NB cloths are getting too small : (
-She started really smiling, and we LOVE it! So so cute, still haven't been able to capture it with the camera yet...stay tuned for that!
-She rolled over from tummy to back the other day and I was shocked, totally wasn't expecting that one!
-She has more awake time which is fun.
-She is starting to babble and make more vocal noises, I love hearing her "talk" : )

Also, I have been working on putting her to sleep in her pnp awake and having her fall asleep on her own and so far its working out great. The last 3 nights I feed her, cuddle her, lay her down awake but drowsy, turn on her vibration and sound machine (she's sleeping in her newborn napper of her pnp), give her her binky, and within 15 min. or so she's asleep. And sleep she does for 7-8 hours. I dont expect to go this well all the time, but little lady is doing fabulous in the sleep department so far!

Hospital Photo Shoot Pics!

I was going to do a labor/delivery shoot...but that all changed once I had to have a c-section. So instead, our photog came out the next day to get some new baby shots of Miss M and family at 24 hours old. Here are some of my favorites...

My Birth Story (Warning: Its a novel!)

It all started Wednesday December 30th. It was an ordinary I'm-at-the-end-of-my-pregnancy kind of day. I have been keeping my hair clean and done, legs shaved, the last few weeks in anticipation of impending labor, but this morning even though it was a "wash and do the hair day" I decided to put it off. I come to regret that very much later. I'll do it tomorrow I thought to myself. I headed to the office to get a little work done, then decided I would stop by the grocery store to get a few last minute "in case I pop" items so the house would be stocked with the usual.

I walked in and check Kay into the kiddie club (god, those are life savers while grocery shopping btw!!) and headed to the produce section. I see the regular produce guy that says to me "WOW, you still have popped yet?" to which I replied..."Nope, but any minute! You never know maybe I'll go into labor while I'm here!" I grinned and started off my shopping, list in hand.

It was 2:00pm and I made it half way through the store, and just as I was about to go down the soda isle to get my DH's crack in a bottle, I felt a little "burst" of water. Oh shit I thought, did I just pee? It wasn't a whole lot, but just enough to fill a small water balloon. No! I didn't pee!! I think my water just broke! My heart started beating a little fast, OMG this is it I thought! I very calmly grabbed my cell phone and called my husband. "Honey..I think my water just broke and I'm in the grocery store." He asked what he should do, and I told him I was going to go ahead and check out and that he should come to and meet me at the store to get the groceries. He thought I should just go, but hey I had a half a cart of food I just took the time to get I wasn't going to just abandon ship!

So I grabbed a few things on that isle and proceed to the check out lines, and they were long. I asked an employee to please let me check out on another isle because my water just broke and I was in labor. She looked at me like I was crazy..."Are you sure you don't want to just go?" Nope, just check me out lady. At this point I was having no contractions at all, so I was calm.

My DH got there just as I was paying her, he grabbed the groceries and got Kay out of the kiddie club. The plan was we were going to meet at home (we only live about 2 miles from the store), grab the hospital bag, throw the groceries in the fridge, and head to the hospital.

I was heading to my car, and called my grandma so she could send someone to the hospital to meet us with Kay.

That's when the panic started.

She immediately starts freaking out telling me to screw the groceries, that this was my second baby and that any minute I would start having fierce contractions, how my hospital was 20 min. away, how I could have the baby in the car if I don't go straight there, etc.

OMG!! OMG!! She's right I thought, usually after your water breaks is when all hell breaks loose, and with this being my second baby I started to FREAK OUT (still no painful contraction though). Then I started speeding home. I have to get there as fast as I can I thought.

I am about a 1/2 mile from home I then see and unmarked car with its lights flashing behind me honking its horn instructing me to pull over.

FUCK! Are you serious?! Am I really getting pulled over right now?

I pull over, and jumped out of my car. I started screaming, look officer my water broke and I'm in labor! He proceeds to ask me with his "I'm better than you attitude" if I knew how fast I was going? "UM, NO! I don't, but sir I need to get home to get my bag so my husband can take me to the hospital". He then said, "Well I am going to call an ambulance". Pissed off, I said "look I don't need an ambulance, I live a 1/2 mile from here I just need to get home, get my bag, and my husband can take me.

He seriously acted like he wasn't going to let me go. Then says to me, "fine, I am going to follow you home, but give me your license and drive the speed limit". Deal, I got back in my car and headed home.

We pulled up and I jumped out and ran in my house, my husband was already there gathering last minute things we needed. As we all walked out to get in my DH's truck the officer stepped out and says to me "Well this obviously wasn't an emergency" and handed me my speeding ticket. What an asshole!! Whatever...we headed the hospital.

On the way I started having some contractions, and at this point the fluid was coming out a lot. The whole seat was soaked, and with each contraction or bump more and more would leak out. Kay was excited, and screaming for daddy to hurry up but was kind of unsure as too what was to come.

We got there (funny because my dad got there before us!) and walked up to L&D. My whole pants and shoes were soaked, but I was feeling okay and so grateful that I didn't have my baby in the car : ). I was having contraction but they weren't painful yet.

They took me to triage, where they checked me and I was still 2-3 cm. They did a quick u/s because my cervix was still really high, and my they thought she was really high up. Sure enough, they were right she was very high and in a posterior presentation (sunny side up instead of facing down) which can make labor very difficult because of the babies position. All my family has arrived then and we were telling them about me getting pulled over and getting a ticket and the whole staff couldn't believe it.

Soon after, they wheeled me to my birthing room where they put in my IV, and started me on fluids. I was having contractions at this point, but the pattern was not consistent. I would get 1 every 2-3 minutes for 15 minutes, then nothing for 20 minutes. So they started pitocin. Which did help regulate the contractions, but as they got closer together baby didn't like it. So they also started me on oxygen and turned the pitocin down.

Then the contractions would slow down and loose the pattern again. So they would turn it up. Baby said no bueno. So they turned it down. Then the contraction would stop...you get the idea.

Over and over and over we did this trying to get labor really going, all to fail each time we tried because baby was not tolerating the contractions well and her heart beat would start to decelerate.

All the while, baby was still high and posterior even after switching sides every 30 min. or so to try to encourage her to move, so we introduced what we later named "the peanut".

This funny looking ball went in between my legs and that's where it stayed for the next 10+ hours. The idea is that it helps open up the pelvis to give baby more room to rotate. So from this point on, I switched from my right side to my left side every 15 minutes now, with an oxygen mask and the "peanut".

I got my epi at about 10:30pm because the anesthesiologist was going to be in surgeries, and I didn't want to risk having to wait to get it. After that it was all rotate and wait. And wait, and wait, and, wait. But I was calm and comfortable the whole (aside from shaking from the epi, and being annoyed with switching sides so much, as soon as I would get comfy it was time to move again).

They checked my cervix at 4 am, still 3 cm. UGH. I got the "possibility of a c-section talk" but at this point, even after 14 hours I was still holding out hope that by the next time they checked me I would have progressed.

I didn't.

They checked me again at 6:30 am, still 3 cm, and despite Mr. Planter, baby was still high and posterior. Great.

My Dr. came in and laid it all out for me. She thought after 16 hours of non progressive labor that my chances of a vaginal birth were becoming very slim. We discussed options and where to go from here. So c-section it was.

After that, everything moved very quickly. More people were coming in, I was signing things, and then within a matter of minutes I was off...being wheeled to the OR.

The anesthesiologist came in and gave me my super c-section dose, the tarp went up, and then they started. It wasn't painful, but very strange. Lots of tugging, pulling, and pinching. I was shaking really bad because the super epi is a lot stronger and it was very cold in the OR. I just remember my DH asking me if I was okay because I was shaking so much. And literally in just about 3-5 minutes the Dr. said "okay mom and dad, she's about to come out and she's a beauty".

Then at 7:35 am on New Years Eve I heard the sweetest, most pure sound in the world.

Her cry.

I was instantly filled with love.

They took her over to the table to measure, weight, and exam her. I still hadn't seen her, but listening to her cry I knew she okay. My DH was a champ, and was over there with her taking a million pictures and telling me how perfect she was.

All the while I still on the table, being tugged, pulled, and stitched back up.

And then I saw her...and my whole life instantly changed. This was our baby. The baby I had been dreaming of for all these years...and I cried tears of joy...

...And she was perfect.

I for the first time I feel complete. I am now the mother of 2 beautiful little girls, and I could ask for nothing more.

We Had Our Baby!!!!

Baby M was born yesterday December 31st, 2009 at 7:35 am via c-section (yes, thats right!) weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces, and was 2o inches long! I was 38 weeks and 4 days when I went into labor, so for all that guessed 38 weeks were right!

We are all happy, healthy, and SO in love!!

I will post a full birth story (and a very interesting one at that!) and pics when I get released from the hospital, which should be Sunday.

Hope you all had a wonderful New Years...I know we did, she is AMAZING!

38 Week Progress Report and Growth U/S

Well here I am 38 weeks 3 days pregnant and back from another weekly OB appointment. I will say that I am so glad that I stayed pregnant through Christmas though, but now I am ready!

Here are this weeks stats:

-Up 1 pound from last week for a total weight gain of 28 pounds. I have completely lost my appetite the last 2-3 weeks and I think its because I feel so full all time and just have no room for food.

-Cervix is now 3 cm dilated (up from 2 cm last week) and still 50% effaced.

I also had my growth ultra sound today and little lady is not big!! YAY! She was measuring exactly 7 pounds today and everything looked perfect. They said she could gain anywhere from 6-10oz. between now and birth (depending on when I deliver) and I feel comfortable with that. No more fears of a c-section! Man I swear the C word has been chasing me the last 2 months but it cant catch me : P

So now we wait.

I am really really really hoping that she comes this week, because Kay goes back to school on Monday. It would be nice to have a few days to bond as a family and not have to worry about who's going to get her to school, pick her up, etc.

So send that labor dust my way : )

37 Week Progress Report

I'm back from another lovely appointment with the OB, getting pretty comfortable there now since I go weekly.

- I lost 3 pounds, so the freak out over gaining 4 pounds in a week at my last appointment was for nothing.

-No progress with the cervix, still 2cm dilated and 50% effaced.

BUT

Baby is now measuring at 40 weeks, so 3 weeks ahead. My Dr. decided that at my next appointment they will do a growth u/s to determine her size, and schedule an induction at 39 weeks (if she doenst come sooner). Depending on her size, we may schedule a c-section being that Kay was only 7lbs. 3oz. and I pushed for 3 hours to get her out. And I mean I barely got her out!! I don't think my body could handle a baby much bigger that that.

So hopefully she isn't too big because like I have said before I would really like to avoid having a c-section.

I'll know more next week! That is unless of course she decides she wants to come on her own before then ; )

37 Weeks!! Full Term!!

How far along? 37 weeks, 1 day

Total wight gain/loss? Up 29 pounds at my last OB appt.

Maternity cloths? Yes, and they are getting too small.

Stretch marks? Unfortunately, yes : ( Still just the 2 small ones on the underside of my belly. If you look closely on my bare belly pic, you can see the one.

Sleep? Pshhhh....I wish! I am waking at least 3 times a night to pee, and one of those times I am up for 1-2 hours because I cant fall back asleep.

Best moment last week? Finally feeling completely "ready" for the baby to come.

Movement? She has been a little rock star in there the last 2 days, but she has definite sleep/wake pattern.

Food cravings? Orange juice, despite my daily HORRIFIC heartburn!

Gender? Girl

Labor signs? Nothing new

Belly button in/out? All the way out

What I miss? Sleep...but I guess I can kiss that goodbye now.

What I am looking forward to? Seeing/meeting this little person that has been growing inside me for the last 9 months!

Milestones? Making it to full term status! Bring on the baby! The hospital bag is now packed and ready to go!

Oh and in bad milestone news...I haven't been sick in over a year, and of course I come down with a cold now : ( I am thankful its just a cold, and hope it goes away before I go into labor. I simply can not imagine being sick and going through labor. Cross your fingers for me please!!

The Nursery!!

So many of you for so long have been asking me to post the nursery pics...well here they are! Better late than never right? I don't want to say that the room is "done" because there are a few more finishing touches that need to get done, but for the most part it is complete!

Lets start with the before pics. It was a small guest room with light celery green walls. Believe it or not we had a queen size bed in this room!

We decided to do a complete overhaul and replace the fixtures, touch up the dry wall, replace the carpet, and re paint. Here we are (well Kay and our house helper) trying to decide on which gray to use.

And the afters! View from the entry door:

The crib:

View of the wall on your right when you walk in:

Dresser/changer combo with a cute vintage lamp I found at a antique shop:

The built in wall shelving (the lights still need to be replaced with white fixtures):

The pink chandelier, that I love!!:

I still need to hang all the wall art, and the 2 white shelves I bought for her room. The picture of the little girl is titled "A Little Bit Independent" and was in my room as a little girl, so it is very special. I am going to re finish and paint the frame white and the pink mirror is another antique find:

I also need to hang curtains in her room. I found these at Target which match the room perfectly, but they only had 1 panel in stock in the store, so I will have to order them. And I plan on adding another wall decal of her name.

And in case anyone is curious...

Crib & Dresser: Munire Essex Collection

Bedding: Dwell Studio Blossom Garden

Tree Decal: Neu Tree Wall Decal Sticker (purchased from modernwallgraphics.com)

Paint: Behr's Graceful Gray in 1/2 the color concentration. The original Graceful Gray was too dark, but it was the perfect hue so they lightened it by half and it was perfect!

Glider & Ottoman (even though you cant really see it in any of the pictures): Chanderic by Shermag in pink and white (purchased from csnbaby.com)

Hope you like it!

36 Week Progress Report

I went to the Dr. again today and here are the stats:

- Weight gain: 4 POUNDS!! Since last week!! How on earth is that possible? I have even been eating less because I haven't had a big appetite. I guess it was catch up time since I did not gain any the last 2 appointments.

- 2 cm dilated now (was 1 cm last week)

-50% effaced (no effacement last week)

So we are making some progress!

36 Weeks! And More Updates

At almost 6 pounds and still packing on the pounds at a rate of about an ounce a day, she is comparable to a crenshaw melon and more than 18 1/2 inches in size.

How far along? 36 weeks
Total weight gain/loss? No weight gain at my last appt. so I think I am at 25 pounds total.
Maternity cloths? Yes, and am outgrowing those. Even my maternity shirts are getting too short. I only have about 3-4 shirts I can wear.
Stretch marks? If you remember me saying last week that I *thought* that I might be getting 2 small ones on the under side of my belly, well I was right. They are stretch marks. BUT they are not big, red, purple, or ugly (yet). PRAYING they don't get worse.
Sleep? Not great, but that can be expected at this point.
Best moment last week? Finishing the nursery!! (Yes, pics...I know, I will take some tomorrow I promise!)
Movement? Slowing down. I can tell she is running out of room because its a lot of rolling type movements, or a knee/elbow/ankle sticking out rather that fierce movement.
Food cravings? None really, still cold milk.
Gender? Girl
Labor signs? Oh yes, or I can at least tell my body is getting closer to labor. My BH contractions are getting painful and I am getting A LOT more of them. I am pretty sure I have lost my mucus plug too (more on that below) So not really "labor" signs, just my body preparing for labor.
Belly button in/out? I don't think it can get more out.
What I miss? Normal cloths.
What I am looking forward to? Meeting my baby!!
Milestones? Her turning and getting head down!

So I just realized that I never updated you all after my OB appointment last week. So here goes.

I got my first internal, and let me tell you my cervix must have been in my throat because her hand was way up there!! Needless to say I was 1 cm dilated, but my cervix was still "thick". She is pretty sure she is head down down now, and that makes sense because everyone has been telling me this last week that I look like she dropped. It also makes me very very happy! No scheduled c-section! I had my group b strep test too (which came back negative)!

**TMI ALERT**

Later after my appt. I went to the bathroom and was pretty sure that I lost some of my mucus plug...my Dr. must have really shakin things up in there! Then yesterday I lost more of it. I am pretty sure that's was it. Totally different that my experience with Kay, it came out all at once with her in the toilet about 2 weeks before she was born and I knew exactly what it was. This time, since it came out in pieces I was kind of thrown for a loop.

Also, my BH contractions had me thinking I might be in labor one night this week. They were really strong and painful and lasted an hour and a half before they finally stopped. The only thing was there there was not a consistent pattern. I would get 3 within 10 min. then none for 10, the 1 every 5 min., etc. so I just waited it out. I knew that if it was real labor they would have never gone away. Again, SO different than my last pregnancy. I told a friend that if I was a first time mom this time around I would be at the hospital 3 times a week thinking I was in labor because these contractions are strong and painful now, and I get them a lot.

So I am going to weekly Dr appointments now. I will posting my progress as the end nears!!

35/35!

Today I am 35 weeks pregnant, and it also means that I have 35 days until my due date!! Can you believe that?! Its just crazy! Seems like just yesterday I posted this, but there are other moments (mostly the uncomfortable ones) that I cant believe I have about a month to go.

Instead of the usual weekly update with a vegetable/fruit picture, I will grace you with some 35 week belly pics. But because I know you are just DYING to know....baby this week is the size of a honeydew melon weighing in around 5 1/4 pounds, and over 18 inches long.

In other pregnancy/baby related news:

- I have a OB appt. Monday, I am anxious to see if she is still breech. She still was at my last appt...she doesn't have much longer to turn at this point, so hopefully she has been listening to her mommy and is getting into position!

- In light of my buttering up like a Thanksgiving turkey twice a day for the last 8 months, I *think* I have 2 little stretchmarks on my belly now : ( I only notice them in a certain light, and they are not red or purple...hence my uncertainty. But its not looking too good.

-She still has no middle name.

-Last night DH put together the rest of her things (pack n play, swing, and stroller!).

-I finished washing all of her cloths, blankets, etc. and put those all away. Just to finishing organizing the rest of her nursery and we are DONE!

So we are now officially ready for her arrival!!

34 Week Belly Pictures

My husband took this interesting photo of me last night. I got out of bed to get a drink of water, and he yells "HONEY...stay right there!" Anyways, it turned out to be kind of a neat picture of the bump.

And here is another view from the top. You can see how high up she is sitting! Its like she is all balled up at the top to the right. About 4 people now have asked me if I am sure I am not having a boy because "I am carrying so high". Torpedo belly for sure : )

Baby Gear Galore

My friend Mya was laughing at me the other day because I still didn't have a car seat for the baby, but yet almost everything else is done. She was like, you know they wont let you leave the hospital without a car seat right? Hahaha, but in my defense I did order one two weeks ago and I was just waiting for it to arrive. I am happy to say that UPS dropped it off today! So now, I can bring my baby home : ) I also called the fire department today to set up an appointment to get it installed. I ended up choosing the Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30 in the color pictured to the right (Titanio, which is a silver and black). It wasn't my first choice for car seats, but was the only one compatible with the stroller I wanted...


Which is the 2009 Peg Perego Pliko Switch! This stroller has everything I wanted. If you click on the link, and scroll through the pictures you can see all the different features of this stroller. I LOVE the fact that baby can face you or away from you, that the whole seat comes off and it works like a snap n go with the car seat, and it has a very large basket for all those bags ; )

I took advantage of a great cyber Monday deals and ordered it today, for 75 dollars off retail and free shipping! Very excited about that and I cant wait until it arrives so I can play with it!


And last but most certainly not least is the diaper bag I ended up getting. I bought this Fleurville Lexie Tote in Botanical Azure a few months ago because they had it for an unbelievable price on mamabargains.com for 68.00!!! This bag retails for around 160.00, so even though I would have liked to have the black and white print better...I just could not pass up that deal.

I love the look and functionality of the Fleurville bags, so I cant wait to be carrying this little number around in the near future!

34 Weeks!

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers -which will help regulate her body temperature once she is born-are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever.

How far along? 34 weeks...wow!
Total weight gain/loss? 25 pounds up
Maternity cloths? All the time, and even some of them are getting tighter.
Stretch marks? None yet :::::crosses fingers::::::
Sleep? Horrible. It is so hard to get comfortable. Between waking up to switch sides every 30 min. or so because my hips are throbbing, and having to pee, good sleep is nothing but a distant memory.
Best moment last week? Well Thanksgiving of course!
Movement? Lots!
Food cravings? Really really cold milk (which again is weird because I normally don't drink milk)
Gender? Girl : )
Labor signs? Nope, still daily BH contractions though. I have been noticing some more painful like cramps now and then...but I think its just my body getting ready.
Belly button in/out? Out
What I miss? Sleep
What I am looking forward to? Seeing my baby, I am starting to get really excited!
Milestones? Making it this far!! Babies born after 34 weeks usually have no long term side effects and do just as well as full term babies. Not that I want to see her anytime in the next few weeks, its just nice to know if she did need to come her NICU time would be short.

33 Weeks!

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark! She is rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening.

How far along? 33 weeks

Total weight gain/loss? Up 22 pounds at my last OB appt. I go again Monday, so I am sure it's more by now.

Maternity cloths? All the time

Stretch marks? None yet...praying this trend continues

Sleep? I am pretty much tired all the time now, my energy has plummeted. Carrying around all this extra weight (remember I gained 20 pounds while going through fertility treatments!) is hard. Sleeping is challenging. I am pretty uncomfortable at night and well I cant remember the last time I got a full nights sleep.

Best Moment last week? Finding the most perfect chandelier for the nursery!

Movement? A lot! I feel a lot of rolling movements which is interesting.

Food cravings? Milk! Other than that, nothing really.

Gender? Girl

Labor signs? Nope, just a ton of braxton hicks every day.

Belly button in/out? Oh that thing has been out!

What I miss? Not having heartburn...is a daily battle.

What I am looking forward to? Completely finishing the nursery...I really feel like this will never be all the way done. Ugh. Its a work in progress, but its frustrating me. I cant do most of the things that need to be done at this point (hang the chandelier, change the electrical outlets, etc,) and my DH is very busy, so the only time we have to it is on the weekends and it seems like something always comes up. Slowly...but surely..it will get done.

Milestones? I had my first realistic dream about the baby last night. She was so cute...she had lots of dark brown hair and big blue eyes. She weighted 7 lbs. 6oz and was born without a middle name!

Note To Self

I, Lisa, vow that I will never take the following things for granted ever again:

• My waist, no matter what size it is!
• Being able to stand for longer than 10 consecutive minutes without feeling like my knees are are going to buckle or my feet are going to explode
• Crossing my legs
• Pants with zippers
• The freedom of being able to play and cuddle with Kay without constantly guarding my belly for the fear that if I don't my unborn baby will have brain damage
• Sitting up or rolling over without having to strategize first
• Putting on socks, or shoes
• Tying said shoes
• My ass not swallowing my underwear
• The power of antacids
• Sex. Mindless, thoughtless, do it any way you like it sex!
• My lung capacity
• And last but certainly not least, being a woman. Getting to experience all these things and the truly amazing, mind blowing capabilities of a woman's body. Such amazing things your body is able to do (all on its own!) to grow and nurture a little precious human being. Absolutely incredible!!

32 Week Bump Shot

I have to admit when I saw this picture I was like OMG!! My belly is HUGE!!! I mean, I never really see myself from this angle. No wonder why people think I am going to pop at any moment! Can you imagine if I had twins in there?! It would be impossible for my body!