The Waiting Game (40 weeks)

I now understand...well at least sympathize with scheduled inductions/c-sections. I have been preparing myself all along that Baby Girl would most likely be "overdue" as is true for most first time moms. But there was something so exciting about hitting 37 weeks and the fact that she COULD be born at any time. The last month is definitely the hardest and the days seem to go by slower! 

Then once your due date comes and goes it can be really discouraging. I found myself thinking this week "what if she never comes?" Every well meaning "when is that baby going to get here?" would make me want to just cry and say "I don't know if she is ever going to come!" Well not quite that dramatic, but you get the point, it was hard. I am so thankful to have midwifery care that is encouraging and doesn't treat me being "overdue" as a concern. Baby girl is healthy and she isn't in any distress so there is no medical need for an induction at this point. I know that if I had an OB pushing me towards induction, it would be so easy to give in when I am so anxious to meet our little girl.
 
Despite my bursts of discouragement through the week, I was also really encouraged thinking that God knows my baby and he knows all of her days. He has her birthday already planned, down to the very second. I found myself meditating on scripture like "unless the lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. (Psalm 127:1)" and "'Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?' says the LORD. 'Or shall I who gives delivery shut the womb?' says your God. (Isaiah 66:9 NASB)" Waiting is so hard, but I know that God is using this time to teach me to depend on him. It's so hard to wait because I can't control it. Pregnancy is so very humbling, as I have learned to walk by faith and trust in the Lord and praise him regardless of the results. 

Things I have done this week to keep busy and distracted

• Devotions 
• Cleaning out the closet
• Packing my bag for the Birth Center
•  Walks around the neighborhood
• Dinner with friends
• Dates with hubby
• Crocheting...I just learned this week!
• Decorating the nursery
• Prepping my cloth diapers
•  Finishing the last season of 24!

    Natural Induction/Encouragement Methods

• Walking
• Swimming
• Dancing
• Evening Primrose Oil
• Herbal labor prep
• Pineapple
• Time with the Hubby ;-)
• Acupressure (ankle and skin between index finger and thumb)
• Acupuncture  (ankles, hands, pinky toes, collar bones)  
• Pelvic Rocks
• Sitting on a yoga/birthing ball    
• Rebozo sifting

   

 
How far along? 40 weeks

Baby size: A Jackfruit (i dont know what that is either)! About 20 inches long and weighing nearly 8lbs.

Total weight gain/loss: 52lbs yikes! That is going to be fun to lose, really thankful that I will be breastfeeding you burn 500 calories a day just sitting there. 
Maternity clothes? I have been wearing sweatpants and slippers all week. I try to wear a nice shirt with my black yoga pants and pretend that I am dressed up.
Stretch marks? I have some tiger stripes (or zebra stripes as my hubby put it!)
Sleep: I love sleep! I have been a little more sleepy this week, taking cat naps here and there. 

Highlights/Best moments this week: Hubby had the whole week off from work...we were hoping baby girl would make her appearance while he had it off, but it was nice to spend time together as a couple. We went to the gym 4 days this week I swam, walked, and Zumba-ed...pretty much anything that would encourage our sweet baby to get in a good position. 

I started acupuncture this week at my chiropractor appointments. I was really nervous about the pain, but surprisingly it didn't hurt at all, with the exception of the needle in my pinky toes.  We decided to do acupuncture because it releases oxytocin  and stimulates contractions...it definitely works! We are just waiting for the contractions to be strong enough to be considered labor. ;-)

We completed the nursery (see Project Nursery part 2) and I cleaned out our closet, put away maternity clothes and summer/spring clothes. Cleaned the house...twice and I think I will do it again haha. Oh and I finally started packing my Birth Center Bag. 

Miss Anything? I am looking forward to having a "normal" sized body again. It's getting too hard to get up and down. I hope I never see 200lbs again, its too much work!
Movement: She is still moving, not crazy big movements, but she is big enough in there that her little movements are noticeable.
Food cravings: ummm... I have been trying to eat salad and protein this week to prepare my body for labor...I may have snuck in a few cookies too
Anything making you queasy or sick: No sickness

Have you started to show yet: yes
Gender : It's a GIRL!!

Symptoms: swollen feet, frequent bathroom breaks, back ache, nesting, braxton hicks contractions, huge bump, colostrum, baby on my pelvic bone.
Belly Button in or out? outie
Wedding rings on or off? off and around my neck.

Happy or Moody most of the time: happy and anxious...sometimes discouraged, but mostly humbled!
Looking forward to:  I AM HAVING A BABY WOOHOOO!

Project Nursery [Part Two] (40 weeks 3 days)

Today we finally put all the finishing touches on the "nursery." It has been a fun project to turn our single bedroom into a bedroom and a Nursery and we are quite content with the outcome!

Here is what it looked like when we started

 

And then we painted

Daddy put the crib together soon after

And following many weeks of baby steps this is the final result...

  

 

 Aren't these precious?! I can't wait for AnnaSophia to wear them! You can get yours HERE!

Now all we need is Baby Girl!

For Unto Us a Child is Born (39 weeks)

I just haven't had time to make a chalkboard the past few weeks. I am so busy, which helps me not to just think about how badly I want to meet baby girl. 

How far along? 39 weeks

Baby size: A Watermelon! About 20 inches long and weighing "a bit over 7 lbs)... actually their guess this week was that she is in the upper 8s. Just like I want her. I really like the idea of a 9 lb baby they are harder to break lol

Total weight gain/loss: 48.5
Maternity clothes? This week I have mostly worn dresses. They are just more comfy and I dont have to keep pulling them up.
Stretch marks? Still aren't super noticeable, but they are there alright.
Sleep: I have actually slept really well this week. It can be hard to get comfortable, but I sleep hard when I sleep. It's been strange to wake up with sore hips from laying on my side all night. 

Highlights/Best moments this week: Baby girl rotated this week and was anterior. I am pretty sure she went right back though... still trying to "spin" this baby.
This week we celebrated my birthday, had a Christmas Eve service that included a true Nativity Story. We had so much fun! We also had Christmas dinner with a family from Church. It is so nice to realize that even though we are away from our biological family, God has blessed us with another family of believers. 

This Christmas God really opened my eyes to what it meant for Christ to be born. God humbled himself to be born in the form of a tiny baby. When I really think about that it gives new meaning to our Christmas Carols and it humbles my heart. I love how Bob Kauflin puts it, 

 Jesus, the eternal Son of God who before time was worshiped by countless angels, set aside his glory and entered the world through the birth canal of a young woman he had created.
He came not into a 21st century environment with trained doctors, sterilized instruments and fetal monitors, but into a 1st century cave filled with flies, animal excrement, and filth.
The fullness of deity took of residence in the body of a baby gasping for its first breath.
The one who spoke the universe into existence lay silent, unable to utter a word.
He came by choice and with the sole intention of redeeming a fallen and rebellious race through his perfect obedience, substitutionary death, and victorious resurrection.


When I meditate on that, I am ashamed of how commercialized Christmas has become. Traditions and time with family and even gifts are all a part of God's common grace to be enjoyed by us, but none of those things are what Christmas is about. 
 

My car is fixed, the nursery is mostly complete...just need to hang the curtains!

Miss Anything? I am just ready to hold my baby girl. I have loved being pregnant and I don't feel like I made some huge sacrifice, but I am so anxious to meet her.
Movement: She still moves around in there, mostly at night when I am falling asleep. 
Food cravings: Well it was Christmas so I just ate everything.
Anything making you queasy or sick: No sickness

Have you started to show yet: yes
Gender : It's a GIRL!!

Symptoms: My feet have been swelling more lately, but nothing too bad. I am definitely getting more emotional, my back hurts more frequently and I have to pee everytime I stand up.
Belly Button in or out? it's out and you can see it through my shirts 
Wedding rings on or off? off and around my neck.

Happy or Moody most of the time: mostly happy, but definitely moody at times
Looking forward to:  I am just looking forward to the fact that it will be no longer than 2 weeks tops before AnnaSophia is here! It's really happening!

"But Daddy, I Want This Baby Nowwww!"(38 weeks)

How far along? 38 weeks

Baby size: A Pumpkin! About 19.5 inches long and weighing 6.8 lbs... actually their guess this week was that she is close to 8. I always knew I would grow a big baby...it's all that protein (and maybe the cookies too :-) )

Total weight gain/loss: 45
Maternity clothes? I still have a hanging belly and few of my maternity clothes do the job... I just rock the saggy belly, because I refuse to buy more clothes at this point
Stretch marks? They are creeping up on me, they haven't gotten any worse than faint purple lines, but they are there.
Sleep: Sleep can be difficult some nights because my back starts to hurt. I am on a 2-3 hour schedule of waking up and rolling over. This should be good practice for nightly feedings in a few weeks.

Highlights/Best moments this week: Baby girl is still posterior so I am trying all sorts of exercises to get her to roll over. For example, I am currently sitting on a birthing ball as I type this. I have also started Rebozo sifting , which is just taking a scarf like fabric and lifting up on the belly and shaking back and forth. its supposed to soften your round ligaments and give baby a better chance at rolling over.
I started having car trouble this week... blah so I am hopeful that we will get it fixed before the baby gets here. 
This is my last week of being 22! I turn 23 on the 23rd and I will be 39 weeks pregnant! 
Miss Anything? I miss being able to bend over without lots of effort
Movement: Still moving, dancing, digging, building sand castles and just enjoying life in the womb
Food cravings: Still want Christmas goodies... and fruit. Fruit > Christmas Goodies
Anything making you queasy or sick: I did get car sick on our way home from our getaway.

Have you started to show yet: yes
Gender : It's a GIRL!!

Symptoms:My feet only swell on Sundays, indigestion, sore back, uncontrollable laughter and crying
Belly Button in or out? mostly out
Wedding rings on or off? off and around my neck.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, but my moods can be unpredictable 
Looking forward to:  Still looking forward to getting stuff together, celebrating the true meaning of Christmas, having a few days with the hubby OH! seeing Les Miserables, and AnnaSophia's Birthday!

Full Term (37 weeks, with a little from 36)

How far along? 37 weeks

Baby size: A Winter Melon! About 19 inches long and weighing 6.25 lbs.

Total weight gain/loss: 40+
Maternity clothes? As you can see my belly just hangs out of everything at this point the word "maternity" doesn't make much difference anymore.
Stretch marks? At the very end of 37 weeks I can see the start of my first "real" stretchmarks...just when I thought I was getting out free.
Sleep: Sleep is decent... I have some trouble sometimes, but definitely not as bad as most people say it is.

Highlights/Best moments this week: Lets see since I skipped 36 weeks... We had our Birthday Planning Appointment and I tested negative for group beta strep woohoo! Baby Girl has been head down so that is one less thing to worry about. 
The Nursery is almost ready! We still have a few more finishing touches to put on it and then I will share more pictures. I have been washing lots of baby clothes and finding spots for them and I have even begun packign the diaper bag (that I am in love with!)
We decorated for Christmas which consists of a tree and some stockings.
At my 37 week appointment I was able to see one of the girls from my Bradley class leaving with her baby...It was so sweet she was only 38 weeks and everything was perfectly fine. It just got me really anxious and excited to meet little AnnaSophia...it also made it more real, I am really going to have this baby soon! 
Hubby surprised me with a weekend getaway to a sweet little Brick house that we shared with our friends Shelby and Jordan (remember baby Jack?). We had a wonderful time to just relax before baby girl makes her debut.  I am sure lots more happened but that is what I remember ;-P
Miss Anything? umm...not being 200lbs its pretty hard work lol
Movement: She is moving quite a bit, but she likes to be posterior (her back against my back) which is really sweet when I get to feel her hands and feet, but we will want her to turn before labor....posterior babies make for killer back labor. This means I am doing lots of pelvic rocks.
Food cravings: Christmas goodies... what a terrible time to be pregnant!
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope!

Have you started to show yet: Well I would think so
Gender : It's a GIRL!!

Symptoms:My feet only swell on Sundays, indigestion, sore back, uncontrollable laughter and crying
Belly Button in or out? mostly out
Wedding rings on or off? off and around my neck.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, but my moods can be unpredictable 
Looking forward to:  packing the diaper bag and mommy bag, our Christmas Eve service, BABY GIRL!

Nesting Begins (35 Weeks)

 Progress of the Baby Bump!

How far along? 35 weeks

Baby size: A honeydew! About 18.3 inches long and weighing 5.25 lbs.

Total weight gain/loss: I think around 35, but who can really tell?
Maternity clothes? I am now in need of more long sleeve winter shirts that cover this giant belly
Stretch marks? Still doing pretty good on the stretchmarks, only have the little ones on my sides
Sleep: Sleep is okay I had a few rough nights this week, but nothing really to complain about

Highlights/Best moments this week: This week I went to an aqua fitness class at the gym in addition to my Zumba. It turned out to be a lot more difficult than I anticipated, but it was nice to be able to jump and do ab workouts :-). By Wednesday this week I was sick and I layed on the couch from Thursday-Saturday. Hubby took off work to take care of me and it was such a huge help even though he fed me McDonalds, ChicFila, Pizza, and cookies (haha) my food log this week is horrendous! 

We were finally able to venture out and we picked up a few more cloth diapers for our stash and looked for some things for AnnaSophia's nook.  The whole time I was sick I also really wanted to clean and organize. I didn't have the energy to do all that, but I did prep my prefolds (washing them a few times so that they are absorbent) and wash some clothes...3 loads of tiny girl clothes! It's so fun to fold little girl clothes! I am sure I wont be saying that in a few months though. 

We also caught a mouse, well actually two, this week. They were hoping to sneak food from our pantry, but we tricked them with chocolate. At least they died happy.
Miss Anything? I miss sleeping on my stomach and not having to rock in order to get up
Movement: This week we played a game with baby girl. I would rub where I knew her feet were and say "where's your feet?" and then she would kick my hand and I would respond "there they are!" She even played with Lucas too! It was really sweet! We can't wait to play fun games with her when she gets here!
Food cravings: I haven't eaten too much in general this week since I have been feeling lousy.
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope!

Have you started to show yet: Yup
Gender : It's a GIRL!!

Symptoms:Still having joint pain, and its getting much harder to find a comfortable position to sit or lay in. 
Belly Button in or out? mostly out
Wedding rings on or off? off and around my neck.

Happy or Moody most of the time: I have been very needy this week since I have been feeling pathetic, but I am happy to be feeling a little better.
Looking forward to:  Christmas Caroling, our appointment this week (we will be going over what to do when labor starts/when to call or come in), Christmas season festivities, finishing touches on the nursery and the arrival of baby girl! 

A Week of Thanksgiving (34 weeks)

How far along? 34 weeks

Baby size: A butternut squash/cantaloupe, but I am pretty sure she has been the size of both of these things in the past, that is what happens when you use two different sources! About 18 inches long and weighing 4.75 lbs.

Total weight gain/loss: my weight gain has been crazy lately, at my appointment I had gained a whopping 34 lbs,  granted I lost 1/2 a pound after I peed. I sometimes weight up to 5 lbs more by the night than I did in the morning...I am not going to worry until my midwives start to worry.
Maternity clothes? I keep catching my belly hanging out the bottom of all my shirts...even the maternity ones haha
Stretch marks? No new or growing stretchmarks this week
Sleep: I have been sleeping well with my 5 pillows :-) and getting up by 8:30 every day.

Highlights/Best moments this week: This week was Thanksgiving and there was so much to be thankful for. On Sunday our Church had a baby shower in honor of Anna Sophia (See pictures below). The ladies pitched in a bought us a Britax travel system...my dream stroller and car seat.
We are so blessed by so many people that love and care about our baby girl. So many people put in time and effort to make food and decorations and gifts (homemade quilt, and cloth diapers!)

We also spent the week house-sitting for some friends of ours, but it was more like a vacation for us than a favor for them. We had a week filled with board games, ping pong matches, and baking in a nice big kitchen. Plus we were able to finish painting the bedroom without having to sleep in the paint fumes!

We celebrated Thanksgiving this year apart from our families, but we realized that God has blessed us beyond measure with a Church family that love us and love the Lord (and they can cook too!). We spent the night singing praises and thanking the Lord for all that he has given us. 

On Saturday, the last day of week 34 we took advantage of the Black Friday Deals. We went on a nice date to Cheesecake factory, and then used a gift card that came just in time to Pottery Barn Kids (Thanks Kathi and Larry Provonsha!) I was able to get the most perfect diaper bag that I had had my eye on for a long time. The combination of sales and gift cards made it ppossible to buy. We also bought a crib mattress and a camcorder all on sale and combined with gift cards!
 
Miss Anything? I miss... nothing really
Movement: She is able to respond and recognize songs now and she definitely does! She loves it when I sing and she dances along, either that or she is nudging me to keep it down. haha But she is in the right position and I think she has more room to move now that she found her sweet spot ;-)
Food cravings: trying to eliminate my need for a cookie a day since I gained 7lbs between visits haha
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope!

Have you started to show yet: Yup
Gender : It's a GIRL!!

Symptoms:New this week is joint pain in my hands and slight swelling in my feet, but only on Thanksgiving. It must be all the baking I was doing on my feet.
Belly Button in or out? pretty much non-existent or out.
Wedding rings on or off? off and around my neck.

Happy or Moody most of the time: SOOO excited I know that my nesting is about to start.
Looking forward to:  Organizing baby girl's nook and getting things ready for her to come!

The following photos are by Sara Jean Peck!

The Past Two Weeks! (33 weeks)

How far along? 33 weeks

Baby size: A Durian (I don't even know what that is)! About 17 inches long and weighing 4 lbs.

Total weight gain/loss: 28 lbs.
Maternity clothes? rockin out in my maternity clothes or just big clothes
Stretch marks? Only stretch marks so far are on my side and they are barely noticeable. I keep waiting for them to pop up out of no where.
Sleep: I sleep pretty well even though it is hard to get comfy.

Highlights/Best moments this week: The past two weeks, I voted for the first time as a Virginian, we attended several parenting seminars which were such a blessing, I started going to a Chiropractor and I am totally in love with it,  I have spent time learning how to take care of babies from my experienced mommy friends Shelby and Sara Jean, and we worked on our nursery room a little more. 
Miss Anything? Still missing my rings, but I think that is about it.
Movement: Oh she is moving all right. But thankfully she isnt a violent baby and she is very kind to my ribs :-)
Food cravings: Cookie craving is here to stay
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope!

Have you started to show yet: So basically I am huge
Gender : It's a GIRL!!

Symptoms: still having back pain, but the Chiro has been helping, also having a hard time not losing my breath as I talk.
Belly Button in or out? Still half in half out...it makes me happy 
Wedding rings on or off? off and around my neck.

Happy or Moody most of the time: I cry so easily and I am so sentimental when I think about baby girl's life and future.
Looking forward to:  Getting everything done, the Holiday Season, and baby girl's grand entrace into this world....eeeep I can hardly wait.   


Check Back Soon for Baby Shower News and Pictures!!