Baby H: 38 weeks

Check out those cankles...I'm feeling extra huge these days!!!

I also realized this is really bad lighting...

How far along? 38 weeks. 

Baby Size: Baby H is 19.75 inches and 6.8 pounds. The size of a pumpkin!!

Total weight gain: 42 pounds - so much for weight stabilization. I weigh myself in the morning, but I bet by the end of the day - with all the swelling & water I'm retaining...it's probably closer to 50 pounds!!

Maternity clothes?  I'm hoping it doesn't get too hot before I have the baby...since I don't have any shorts to wear {besides Nick's mesh shorts!!}
 

Sleep: I actually got some good sleep the first part of the week - sleeping almost the entire night and only getting up once to use the bathroom. One night, Nick got home late from the farm and left early the next morning & I didn't even wake up!! I say that's a win in the sleeping department!! 
 

Best moment this week: Lazy Sunday. Nick & I spent the ENTIRE day on the couch. It was nice to just relax & hang out since we've been so busy lately.

Miss Anything?  Bending over/moving normal/working out/pre-pregnancy body/sleep/yard work/gardening.  I miss having my legs shaved - it's turned into too much of a chore to do so it doesn't get done as much as I'd like!! Which isn't fun when you're wearing maxi dresses most of the time!

Movement: Nick has been able to feel the baby move more & more at night. The baby is usually active between 9-10pm {when I'm relaxing before bed} and Nick gets to feel all the kicks & jabs with me.

 

Food cravings: No cravings.

Anything making you queasy or sick/symptoms:
- Nose Bleeds/Stuffy Nose.
- Pregnancy hoof.
- Pregnancy paw.
- Tailbone pain.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Rib pain.
- Linea Nigra.
- Swelling {feet} - Last year at this time, I loved 90 degree days...this year I love the 70 degree days...it means less swelling of the feet!!
- Braxton Hicks contractions - same thing as last week...tightening of the belly and some cramp like symptoms on my lower belly.
- Pelvic pressure - I'm starting to get more pressure and hip pain. I'm assuming it means the baby is dropping more?
- Waddling - The closer I get to the end...the worse it gets...
- Mucus Plug - gone. My doctor you can go into labor a couple days or a couple weeks after you lose it...

Gender: We still don't have a boys name picked out - not even close to deciding what we want. The girls name has been picked out since week 6. I have one girls & one boys outfit packed for the coming home outfit.

Have you started to show yet: It's not my belly that makes me feel huge...it's the extra weight I'm carrying on my thighs, arms and face. I can't wait to start working out again and get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Funny story - Nick asked me last week if I was concerned about losing the weight after I had the baby...I told him we aren't going to talk about that! HA!

Mood: Everyone keeps asking me if I'm nervous...I don't feel nervous at all. I don't really think about the labor & how it's going to be because I know I have no control over it. And I'm not really nervous about bringing a baby home - I guess we'll figure it all out and I feel like we have such an amazing support system - with our families and all our friends.

Stretch marks: None.

Belly button in or out: In. Way in...

Wedding ring on or off: Off.

Labor Signs: All the labor signs have stayed the same as they have been the last 3ish weeks. I have a feeling this baby isn't coming soon...Nick & I both think I'll be a week overdue when it decides to make it's appearance.

Thoughts:

My SIL made me a hospital gown and it's super cute!! Can't wait to wear it {instead of the same old ugly hospital gowns} when I'm in the hospital!

See my curly hair in that picture?? Yep, that's my natural curl...I just straighten it most days. My hair was stick straight when I was little and then sometime around my sophomore year of college - it decided to go curly. I was hoping this pregnancy would make my hair straight again...but it looks like it made it even more curly. I'm not too happy about that!

Busy. Busy. Busy. Between getting my maternity leave tasks trained & documented at work. Trying to finish up the last minute things at home. And having some kind of party, wedding or event every weekend - I haven't really had much down time lately. Everyday I feel exhausted when I leave work and think maybe today is the day I will rest - nope. Instead...I work on writing thank yous, clean the house, organize something or sewing something like burp clothes, the crib bumper or a blanket. I'm not the type that can just go home and sit on the couch all night long. Hopefully I learn to slow down once the baby gets here and enjoy those little moments.

The waiting game is not fun. Will I go today or will it be 3 more weeks?  Every day before I leave work - I go over the things I am working on and what items are due with my co-workers incase I don't make it into work the next day!

I've mowed the yard twice in the last week - not to induce labor but because it needed to be done {and Nick has been at the farm for planting season}. Nick mowed part of the yard on Friday and said he left the "easy" part for me - when I got home...I saw he left the entire front hill for me to mow!! If you've seen our yard - you know that wouldn't be considered the easy part to mow!!

 

Baby H: Blayner baby shower

A couple weeks ago, Ann hosted my college friends baby shower for me.

This wasn't your typical 'play shower games and eat dainty little sandwiches' type of shower. Nope, that's not us. Instead - we painted pottery while drinking wine {except for me!}, had dinner at Ann's house while drinking wine, opened gifts while drinking wine and then headed back to my house for more wine and a slumber party with all the girls.

I had a great time at the shower and it was nice to catch up with everyone!!

We enjoyed wine & snacks while we painted pottery.

I made a grey with green polka dot piggy bank for the baby.

 

 

Everyone enjoyed painting the pottery...well, except for maybe Beth...she was pretty stressed out by the end!!

  

 

The finished products!!

 

 

Next we headed back to Ann's house for dinner & gift opening.  

 

  

I didn't get any pictures from the rest of the night...but we all had a great time staying up late & catching up with each other!!  

 

 

Checklist before baby

With 2 weeks left until my due date...I'd say we're pretty much prepared for the baby to get here. The items we have left on the to-do list aren't big deals {except for the baby's name, but we'll figure that out} and it'll be fine if they don't get done before the baby arrives.

Now, the weather needs to cooporate so the guys can get the crops in the fields so Nick will be around once the baby is born!!

Already completed:

• Pick a name {girl} - done
• Pre-register at the hospital
• Take childbirth prep classes – decided not to go to classes but watch the DVD instead
• Write birth plan– my plan is to listen to the doctor and do whatever they tell me to do!
• Complete shower registry - it's as complete as it's going to get since I don't really know what I need.
• Maternity photos - done and I LOVE them!!
• Book newborn photographer
• Design & order thank you cards for shower - designed cards to match the chevron pattern for the nursery and love them!
• Wash all baby items - I washed some items, but decided that I didn't want to wash all of them...
• Put away and organize baby items - all items from our showers are organized & put away in the nursery
• Finalize maternity leave with employer - I'm going to take 6 weeks off...maybe 8. We'll figure it out when the baby gets here. I might do some work from home, so I can take a longer maternity leave.
• Read childbirth books - I feel like the videos did a good enough job explaining things that I don't need to do any additional reading.
• Set up dog sitting while we're at the hospital - Since it'll be summer & Jayde is outside she'll be fine for a couple days on her own. Nick will run home & check on her.
• Write and send out thank you cards - Shower 1
• Write and send out thank you cards - Shower 2
• Write and send out thank you cards - Shower 3
• Get a pedicure - got one a couple weekends ago...but I need another one - planning on going Thursday after my doctor's appointment.
• Assemble all baby gear - all items that we have are assembled
• Purchase baby items needed not gifted at shower - need to decide if I want to buy a couple things, but I'm mostly done with buying items until after the baby is here & I figure out what additional items we need.
• Buy postpartum supplies - ice packs, sanitary pads, panty liners, wipes/creams
• Pack hospital bag {baby} - baby's diaper bag is packed with a couple sleep sacks, swaddlers and going home outfits.
• Make and freeze some meals - made 10 frozen meals with a friend & I can't wait to try all of them!
• Pack hospital bag {mom}- most of the items are packed besides the day to day things I use {straightening iron, etc}. I'm not too worried - I figure I'll be in labor for several hours at home before I have to head to the hospital.
• Buy nursing supplies - nursing pads {done}, nursing bras {done}, pump pieces {done}, milk collection bags {done}, bottles {done}
• Research health insurance for baby - baby will be added to my health insurance.
• Watch DVD childbirth prep video - the videos were very informational and hopefully they will help once I go into labor!
• Watch Happiest Baby On the Block DVD - decided I don't want to watch any videos or read any books right now. Nick & I will figure it all out...and if we don't - then I might read a book or something. Our parents raised us without reading a book on how to do it..so I figure we can figure it out.
• Install car seat - Nick's parents bought the carseat for us. They brought it down to our house this week - within 5 minutes of Nick getting home, he had it installed in my vehicle. Guess he's ready for the baby to be here!!
• Purchase and install carbon monoxide detector - Nick was able to get one from work.
• Find pediatrician – found who we want to use and will set up follow-up appointments with him when we are discharged from the hospital.

Pre-baby:

• Pick a name {boy} – still can’t decide on a boys name.
• Pack ‘daddy hospital survival kit’ - I have this started with new pj bottoms and his travel toiletry bag - but need to buy candy, food, soda, magazines, etc for Nick.
• Clean up around the house - we've cleaned the entire house and trying to maintain that until the baby gets here! It's not easy to do when we keep accumulating more & more baby stuff!
• Finish nursery - all the big things {furniture/bedding} are done...just working on the details - hang frames {done}, make fabric bunting {done}, make crib bumper{done}, buy clock, cover lamp shade with fabric, make changing pad cover, order rug, hang lanterns, hang bunting
• Get a haircut - appointment is scheduled for this week.

Post-baby:

• Call friends & family to announce arrival of baby
• Send out birth announcement email to coworkers
• Call newborn photographer to schedule session
• Call to start FMLA/disability paperwork
• Add baby to health insurance
• Mail out birth certificate
• Mail out birth announcements

Baby H: 37 weeks

 

How far along? 37 weeks.  {FULL TERM!!}

Baby Size: Baby H is 19.25 inches and 6.3 pounds. The size of a swiss chard - they really need to come up with better size comparisons!

Total weight gain: 40 lbs. Weight stayed the same from last week...1 of the 6 signs of pre-labor: weight stabilization!!

Maternity clothes?  I have several maxi dresses, pairs of capri's and a shirts in the rotation. Not many of my early pregnancy clothes are fitting me anymore.
 

Sleep: I'm barely getting any sleep these days. I wake up almost every hour from 10pm - 3am and have to use the bathroom. I manage to sleep from 3am-6am...but am so exhausted when the alarm goes off that it's hard to get out of bed! I'd say I can't wait for the baby to get here so I'm more comfortable at night and I can get more sleep...but I know that's not going to be the case!!

Best moment this week: My first mother's day as a mommy to be. Nick kept joking with me that I had to wait until next year to celebrate my first mother's day since I wasn't technically a mom yet. But he surprised me on Sunday morning with a card and gift. He got me a tripod and new camera bag - I'll be set to take lots of pictures of the baby once it gets here!!

Miss Anything? Same ol' stuff - Bending over/moving normal/working out/pre-pregnancy body/sleep. And as crazy as it sounds - I miss doing yard work/gardening. I look forward to spring, so I can plant flowers and watch them grow...but I don't see myself on my hands & knees planting flowers this year!!

Movement: As much as the baby moves during the day & in the early evening - I haven't  woke up in the middle of the night from kicks & jabs. Guess that's a plus in the sleeping department!

 

Food cravings: No cravings...eating lots of fruit {watermelon, pineapple and bananas} since it's been nicer out!! I wouldn't call that a craving since I do that every spring/summer.

Anything making you queasy or sick/symptoms:
- Nose Bleeds/Stuffy Nose.
- Pregnancy hoof.
- Pregnancy paw.
- Tailbone pain.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Rib pain.
- Linea Nigra - I have a faint brown line that runs down my belly.
- Swelling {feet} - My doctor said as long as my blood pressure is good {which it has been this entire pregnancy} and I do not have protein in my urine - then the swelling is perfectly fine and just a pregnancy symptom {especially towards the end in the hotter weather}. No reason for concern that it is preeclampsia.
- Braxton Hicks contractions - tightening of the belly and some cramp like symptoms on my lower belly.
- Pelvic pressure - same amount of pressure...hasn't changed much.
- Waddling - I waddle really bad when I get up off the couch or out of bed!
- Mucus Plug - lost my mucus plug on Thursday & Friday last week.

Gender: My prediction - a little red-headed curly haired girl. I think she'll have Nick's hair color {and we both have curly hair} and my green eyes. The girls name we have picked out will fit her perfectly!!

Have you started to show yet: If I said no...would you believe me?!?

Mood: Excited!! With all the pre-labor signs I've been having, I know the end is near and I'll get to meet the baby!!

Stretch marks: None.

Belly button in or out: In. Way in...

Wedding ring on or off: Off.

Labor Signs: At my 36 week check up, I went over all my pre-labor signs {Braxton Hicks, pelvic pressure, lost mucus plug} with my doctor and he said they all seem normal for this point in my pregnancy. He didn't check me {to see if I was dilated} and won't until week 38 unless I have more serious labor pains. All the symptoms have stayed about the same over the last 2 weeks - so even though I'm progressing...they haven't gotten worse.

Thoughts:

Things are really coming together in the nursery. I finished the fabric bunting last weekend and it turned out better than I thought it would!! I just need to pick up a couple small things {clock, lamp}, finish making the bumper pad and hang the bunting & lanterns on the wall - and I think it'll be finished!!!

Nick is in a wedding this weekend about 2 hours from home and his entire family will be at the wedding. My niece is graduating high school {about 2.5 hours away & I am unable to attend since I can't drive that far away by myself} and my entire family will be at her graduation party. So that leaves me home alone for the weekend!! I've recruited my best friend Ann as my on call labor coach in case I go into labor and need someone to go to the hospital with me!

 

The bags are {mostly} packed and ready to go. Oh...and I've completely over-packed like normal! My SIL made me a hospital gown and is mailing it to me this week. Can't wait to see it!!

My friend, Jodi,  & I made frozen meals on Saturday morning - we made 10 meals so I should be set for a while after the baby gets here. I really liked spending time with Jodi and it will be nice to have some meals on hand. I going to try to make this a recurring thing - especially before harvest and Nick is in the fields!

 

Baby H: 36 weeks

 

How far along? 36 weeks.

Baby Size: Baby H is 18.75 inches and 5.75 pounds. The size of a crenshaw melon - whatever that is?!?

Total weight gain: 40 pounds.

Maternity clothes?  I've been getting lots of compliments on my maternity maxi dresses...some people {non-pregnant people} want to buy them even though they're maternity!! HA!
 

Sleep: I've started to use a white noise app on my phone to help me sleep. Funny story about that app - Nick was snoring away and I couldn't sleep so I decided to download an app on my phone to try it out. I selected the rain/thunderstorm noise - it was soothing and I did fall asleep to it. Nick asked me the next morning if it rained all night & he was worried that we got alot of rain & he wouldn't be able to get in the fields for awhile to plant. Oops..guess I should have told him!?! 

 

Best moment this week: Blayner girls baby shower!!! We painted pottery {I made a piggy bank for the nursery}, ate dinner & opened gifts at Ann's house and then had a slumber party at my house. It was fun celebrating the baby and catching up with my friends!

Miss Anything? Same ol' stuff - Bending over/moving normal/working out/pre-pregnancy body. Oh...and SLEEP!

Movement: Some days I barely feel the baby move and other days the baby moves like crazy!! I think it depends on how busy I am - if I'm busy at work and/or working on things at home - then I barely feel movement. If I actually stop to relax...then I tend to feel more movement.

Food cravings: No cravings...just eating several times during the day because I'm always hungry.

Anything making you queasy or sick/symptoms:
- Nose Bleeds/Stuffy Nose.
- Pregnancy hoof.
- Pregnancy paw.
- Tailbone pain.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Rib pain - The rib pain is basically gone.
- Swelling {feet} - My feet have started hurting more & more. They're fine during the day, but it's at night when they really start to swell and hurt - Nick has been great and rubs them every night!
- Linea Nigra - I have a faint brown line that runs down my belly.
- Braxton Hicks contractions - feeling contractions throughout the day & evening.
- Pelvic pressure - I mostly feel this symptom when I'm walking - it doesn't hurt {yet}.
- Waddling - I am a waddling fool these days!!


Gender: Remember when I said we had finally decided on a boys name??! Now Nick has decided he's not sure if he likes the name, so I told him he has to come up with a name better than the one we have picked out to change my mind. He's been reading through the baby name book for 3 night straight!!  

Have you started to show yet: Sometimes I don't think I really look that big...that's what happens when you put the weight on slowly over the course of 9 months...you get used to it. Other times, I look in the mirror and think I look HUGE!

Mood: Anxious. With all the rain...Nick hasn't even started planting yet. I'd really like the planting to be done when the baby gets here so Nick can enjoy being at home for a few days with me & the baby and not have to rush back to the fields!

Stretch marks: None.

Belly button in or out: In. Way in...

Wedding ring on or off: Off.

Labor Signs: Feeling Braxton Hicks contractions - they go away when I move positions. I've started to feel more pressure in the pelvic area - I'm wondering if the baby has dropped more? {I'll find out at my appointment on Thursday}

Thoughts:
My brother, TJ,  is the most amazing dad you'll ever meet. He would do anything for his kids. I've always been close with him {he's only 1 year 2 weeks older than me} and when I did my internship in college, I lived with him and we got even closer. At that time, he only had Haley and she was about 1 1/2 years old. I'd take her on walks almost every night and we created a bond - she'll always be my little HayHay {even though she's 15 now!}. Since then he had a son, Blake. Who is the most outgoing, fun loving kid - he puts a smile on everyone's face. When we found out we were expecting - I sent TJ a card and told him that I hope Nick is half the dad to our baby that he is to his kids. Last week, he texted me and told me that I'll be "one HELL of a mom"...it brought tears to my eyes. He probably doesn't even know what it means to me to hear him say those words.

This will be my 2nd Mother's Day without my mom. Last year, I couldn't even bring myself to wish my step-mom or mother-in-law a Happy Mother's Day. But this year, I've decided I'm not going to be sad on that day. Instead of being upset about what I don't have...I'm going to embrace what I do have. Two amazing mothers in my life that love & support me. Sure...I'll still think about my mom and that I don't get to wish her happy mother's day - but I'm lucky to have others to share the day with.

I've starting making the packing lists for the baby and me for the hospital! I plan on having my bags packed by the end of the weekend. I've been looking on pinterest and blog stalking sites to see what others suggest to pack for the hospital. Ofcourse, my first step is to buy a new bag for  myself to pack everything in - I can't use something I already have for such a special event!!
 

Checklist before Baby

I've made progress on the checklist in the last 30 days and now we only have 30 days until the baby arrives!! I feel like I have plenty of time to get these items done before the baby gets here...

Already completed:

• Pre-register at the hospital
• Take childbirth prep classes – decided not to go to classes but watch the DVD instead
• Write birth plan– my plan is to listen to the doctor and do whatever they tell me to do!
• Complete shower registry - it's as complete as it's going to get since I don't really know what I need.
• Maternity photos
• Book newborn photographer
• Design & order thank you cards for shower - designed cards to match the chevron pattern for the nursery and love them!
• Wash all baby items - I washed some items, but decided that I didn't want to wash all of them...
• Put away and organize baby items - all items from our showers are organized & put away in the nursery
• Finalize maternity leave with employer - I'm going to take 6 weeks off...maybe 8. We'll figure it out when the baby gets here. I might do some work from home, so I can take a longer maternity leave.
• Read childbirth books - I feel like the videos did a good enough job explaining things that I don't need to do any additional reading.
• Set up dog sitting while we're at the hospital - Since it'll be summer & Jayde is outside she'll be fine for a couple days on her own. Nick will run home & check on her.
• Write and send out thank you cards - Shower 2
• Get a pedicure - got one this weekend...depending on when I have the baby I might need another one before I have it.
• Assemble all baby gear - all items that we have are assembled

Pre-baby:

• Pick a name – still can’t decide on middle name for a boy and now Nick has decided he doesn't like the boys name...so looks like we're starting over with the name!?   
• Watch DVD childbirth prep video - started watching the videos and are half way done with them.
• Watch Happiest Baby On the Block DVD - we'll see if I get to this.
• Find pediatrician – found who we want to use – need to call.
• Research health insurance for baby - In the process of creating a spreadsheet to determine if the baby will go on Nick's insurance or my insurance or if we'll change to a family plan.
• Pack hospital bag {mom}  - have a list of items started and plan on starting to pack this week
• Pack hospital bag {baby} - have a list of items started and plan on starting to pack this week
• Pack ‘daddy hospital survival kit’ - I want to make a basket with candy, food, soda, magazines, etc for Nick.
• Clean up around the house - deep cleaned the entire upstairs of the house and trying to maintain that until the baby gets here!
• Make and freeze some meals - Planning on doing this with friends this month.
• Write and send out thank you cards - Shower 1 {I was waiting on the thank you cards to write these}
• Write and send out thank you cards - Shower 3
• Purchase baby items needed not gifted at shower - need to decide if I want to buy a couple things, but I'm mostly done with buying items until after the baby is here & I figure out what additional items we need.
• Buy postpartum supplies - ice packs, sanitary pads, panty liners, wipes/creams
• Buy nursing supplies - nursing pads, nursing bras, pump pieces, milk collection bags {done}, bottles {done}
• Finish nursery - all the big things {furniture} are done...just working on the details {wall decor/accessories}
• Install car seat - still haven't gotten the car seat yet...
• Purchase and install carbon monoxide detector      
• Get a haircut

Post-baby:

• Call friends & family to announce arrival of baby
• Send out birth announcement email to coworkers
• Call newborn photographer to schedule session
• Call to start FMLA/disability paperwork
• Add baby to health insurance
• Mail out birth certificate
• Mail out birth announcements