Not Quite 39 Weeks

Well very differently from her brother - our Little Miss decided to come early!!  I went into labor at 38weeks 6days.  So this is a picture right as we left for the hospital and not quite a 39 week photo.  The birth story is long and crazy - but not nearly as long and crazy as the AFTER story.  Lets suffice it to say that it includes the ice storm of the decade, power outages, and earthquakes.  UNBELIEVABLE!

Our little miss M entered the world via C-section (sad face) but happy and healthy and screaming (until she saw her daddy and she stopped immediately and looked right at him.  Can you think of a quicker way to wrap him around her little finger?)

She was smaller than her brother at 7lb 7oz and 20.25in long.  She is long and slender and dainty.  She looks like her brother but has her own girlie look to her (and almost no eyelashes and eyebrows - very different from little e's eyelashes that came half way down his cheeks).

There is a lot more to tell - but this is just a quick update to let you know she's here!!

Moving on up... 36,37,38 weeks

Well newly acquired back pain has joined the list of side effects in the last few weeks (underneath my left shoulder blade - ouch!!). Its affecting my sleep quite a bit (which just means more naps for me when e is napping and less keeping the house clean).  But we have also managed to get ALOT done in Little Miss's room and our 'to-do' list in there is almost completely crossed off.
Maybe if I remember to take some pics we can do a full tour of that room soon.
In the meantime - here is my growing belly with our sweet girl (who has no name still)!

36 weeks 

36 weeks

37 weeks

37 weeks

These were taken during our 'snow day' - so much fun!  Another whole post but basically a dusting of snow means no school and no work (we don't have plows and salt people!) so we got to spend a fun day at home playing and it just happened to fall on my 37 week - so daddy got to take some 'real' pictures of the belly.

38 weeks

38 weeks

I am getting to the point with my wardrobe that there really are only certain things that 'fit' - and the fickle weather is not helping me in this department.  Snow one day and 65 the next (well a few days later - but STILL!)  Just hoping the crazy weather doesn't lead to colds or flus or other maladies before labor!
We have a Dr appt this Friday - fingers crossed that mommy gaining only one pound in the last month has helped keep Little Miss's weight down too and Dr doesn't think she is 'too big'.  Mommy is gearing up for a 'big fight' to be able to have enough weeks for her to come on her own that we get a real shot at a successful VBAC.  Prayers and good thoughts are welcome!
Since we are getting closer to having the house 'ready' maybe I will have time to download more pics from the camera and do some other posts this week.  We shall see!

35 Weeks

This post is brought to you in part by the iPhone and how it makes my life simpler enough to remember to take and load photos that I can quickly share.
Week 35 has been a little better.  I'm not sure if she is (finally) moving down and there is less pressure pushing up acid or I'm eating better or what else - but I finally have had a LITTLE bit of relief from acid reflux.  Not waking up with it every single night.  I also have a tiny bit of my energy back thanks to iron supplements.

Had I mentioned the eye twitching?  lol - That started weeks (months) ago and I'm now guessing it was either entirely stress related (or possibly iron related).  As soon as the hallway was cleared of flooring and cribs the twitching stopped.  Stress I think.  (but coincided with the iron supplements as well - so who knows?) Oh you didn't know the crib was up?!?  Eric has the floors done, is working on the trim and I'm now frantically making sheets, working on curtains, decorations etc so the room can be 'done'.
(sneak peak!)

I am feeling pretty good.  I am not as big as last time (by about 4 lbs at this point) and eating most meals at home has made a huge difference in the amount of swelling (I have VERY little this time vs. last time).  I am still getting to the point that I'm pretty ready to be done being pregnant - but I am NOT ready to have a baby at home (for about a million reasons - the biggest being the state of the house/nursery/my mind).

Little e decided to throw another loop in the mix today when he wanted to go pee-pee on the potty and wear big boy undies like his daddy! Say wha?!?  He has been talking about it for a little while now and he has gone a few times at night right before his bath but nothing consistent.  Usually when I ask him during the day he doesn't want to go or try.  Well not anymore!  Today he decided was the day and we have had undies on since breakfast when he told me he had to go and said he wanted 'race car undies' if he went.  We have had a few accidents and a few successes.  We will see what happens.

Yeah - so thats how crazy life is in a nutshell at 35 weeks here.  Nine months pregnant with nowhere to put a baby, house a mess, no bags packed (yet) trying to potty train a two year old - no wonder my eye is twitching!

Weeks 31-34

Weeks 31-34 are a blur because there was so much going on in the short period between Thanksgiving and Christmas as well as afterward with New Years and a BOWL GAME!!  But I'll try to recap as best I can.  I didn't take any true 'belly' shots until this week (34) again - but I have pictures of me each week so hopefully that will suffice.

Week 31
Was seriously a blur! Last minute shopping, wrapping, house cleaning.  BLUR!  We also planned a last minute trip to TN to have Christmas with my family since the actual holiday fell on a Wednesday (sooo inconvenient!)

Eric and I in TN at "Christmas"

Week 32
Fell on Christmas Day this year.  We did take a family photo at a friends house Christmas Eve (and even one side view - so you can kinda see the tummy).

We had a CRAZY Christmas Eve from being in Ninety-Six and visiting with Eric's family to a get together at a friends house here in town to the new 8pm contemporary service at church.  Little e didn't make it through church this time b/c he was concerned about why there was no drummer and it started very slow with no music.  But he had a GREAT Christmas day (really I will do a whole post for that) and we enjoyed being together as a family of 3 at home!


Week 33
Then fell on New Year's Day.  I again have a pic from the night before.  We 'celebrated' with little e before he went to bed and he did MUCH better than last year.  Last year he was terrified of the hats and noisemakers - this year he loved wearing them and making noise and even blowing on them.  Too cute!

I left the Thursday after 33 weeks and headed to MIAMI for our bowl game!  This was the first time ever in my life that Ohio State played Clemson and I wasn't going to miss it.  Soo glad I could convince my Dad to go with me.  We had a GREAT time (again - a whole other post) but here is a fun one of us from the game.

Week 34
Has been about our first 'sane' week back in our routine at home.  We (and by we I mean Eric) is working on the floors in Little Miss's room - finally - (something he started over the weekend while I was gone in Miami) (YAY!!!).  Again - another whole post can be made about the progress here - but just exciting to mention we have started working on it at all!!

34 weeks front

34 weeks side

These last shots are phone shots - BUT I have a new phone (soooo exciting after FOUR years!!) and having them taken this way will likely ensure they get to the computer and this blog much faster than the real camera.

Lets see - overall through these four weeks I have felt TIRED.  I mean like take a nap almost every other day when little e does TIRED.  I don't think I was quite that tired last time - but I also wasn't chasing a two year old (and I'm two years older myself).  I hear having a girl 'takes more out of you' so Little Miss can share bit of the blame too.  But likely it has a lot to do with my iron levels.  The agony that is acid reflux continues.  I take Zantac every 12 hours (like on the nose) and sometimes am watching the clock just WAITING to be able to take it again.  Its awful.

Thursday of week 33 we went to the Doctor and in addition to a sonogram (she is perfect and gorgeous btw - wanna see?!?)

Anyway - in addition to a sonogram I asked about my ice crunching obsession and being so tired.  Lo and behold, my bloodwork did show low iron so I've added back in my prenatal (which I thought was causing some of my acid reflux) and an iron supplement (slowly).  So I feel a bit better - but I have to tell you I still LOVE crunching ice.

Back on topic - the sonogram was to tell us if she is measuring on time (or big) which weighs in to the possibility of a successful VBAC.  Her head was big (35 weeks - ahh big head like her daddy :) ) but everything else measured 33 weeks.  They did estimate her weight at 5 lbs 5 oz (which seems big), although they can be off by a pound or more with those estimates.  She is head down and wrapping around from right to left (butt on top right, feet down my left side).  Which does explain some of the 'rolling' I'm feeling because I can feel her down low and on each side.  Thats hands down low, bottom on right and feet on left.  The doctor made no comments yet about VBAC or not, but I think he is going to keep a close eye on her weight and position and my progress before we make any decisions.

I have had some contractions this week (including one today that hurt!)  Its a pretty new feeling.  I don't remember having a contraction that hurt with little e until after my water broke.  Hoping that means she has plans of trying to come on her own (not yet - but before they make me have another C-section).  

Alright - well I guess that wraps up the last months pregnancy updates in a nutshell.  Hopefully as life returns to 'normal' I can keep up a little better.

So far behind... or weeks 28-30

Week 28
I am pretty sure I just missed a months of updates.  We were at the beach for Thanksgiving week (week 28) and I didn't take a belly picture (don't worry I took a lot of other pictures and will try to do some updates).  But I'm sure I gained a lot of weight and it wouldn't have been pretty anyway.
OH - but I did get a fun toy before we left for the beach! - its a remote to trigger the camera.  Hopefully my 'self-portraits' will at least be a little easier to take.

See?  Very excited about my remote!

Week 29
I came home and promptly had my 1 hour sugar test - which I FAILED - ugh!  It was probably all the Thanksgiving desserts and celebrating having my SIL and BIL here (with funfetti cupcakes and peppermint ice cream the night before my test).  Either way I was pretty good for the 5 days after that before my 3 hour sugar test.  (Note to self - don't fail the 1 hour test, I spent the first almost 2 hours of the 3 hour test just trying not to puke).  I passed the three hour test (and lost a pound) and I'm back on the straight(er) and narrow(er) path.

Still not great 'self-photos' even with the timer but oh well!


Week 30

This week we went and got our Christmas tree with friends (hopefully more pics and updates from that as well).  We decorated the tree and I decided to take my picture there this week.

I'm getting pretty tired (but reading from last time it was the same, and I did get some energy back).  I really hope I do get some energy back because we still have ALOT to do!  I got the craft room cleaned up and we were hoping to start floors after Thanksgiving. Alas, the holiday season is going to be too busy (and short) for us to get started so its walking around floors, rugs, and crib boxes for a few more weeks.  Here's hoping some energy comes back around week 35ish - lol!!

What our hallway looks like...

I am dealing with all the same issues that I have been for weeks now - heartburn (bad!), back pain, and fatigue.  Did I mention I'm tired?!?  Lol.

27 Weeks

I feel like I am carrying around a (heavy) basketball.  Maybe a bowling ball is a better analogy.  My stomach feels hard and like it couldn't possibly stretch anymore.  Tight and heavy and there couldn't possibly be 13 weeks left could there?!?

She still (apparently) has plenty of room to move (and does so at will) but she is large and in charge enough that sometimes it actually hurts :)  Little e almost ALWAYS kicked my ribs (and usually even the left one).  She is all over the place.  She kicks low a lot, and right across the middle (which is so strange b/c now it feels like she will just come straight out the front) and you can even see the belly move and jump sometimes (I don't remember a lot of that with e).  She still has hiccups multiple times a day and loves when I eat sweets (she really starts dancing).
Apparently this week (one week from trimester three!) she is 2 lbs heavy and 15" long (they start measuring head to toe now).  That seems pretty big to be doing somersaults inside my short frame - but I swear she does.  This girl is going to be a mover and a shaker and plenty of trouble I think.  Lord, help us!
Besides feeling like I'm carrying a bowling ball (which means my back, stomach muscles, and hips all hurt) I just have heartburn still.  I read in my journaling from e that I had some swelling this week with him already.  I am guessing eating most of my meals at home (vs. breakfast and lunch out like I did while working) is helping with that a lot.  Its certainly not doing much on the weight gain side (still pound for pound as last pregnancy) but hopefully overall its a bit healthier for both of us.

26 Weeks

Approaching the 3rd trimester and I'm feeling the pressure.  The pressure to get things done.  I've been scrambling about nursery things.  We are turning a very definite craft room into a nursery.  

This is an old picture - it hasn't been this clean in years :)

Beth and I painted the room weeks ago and I made an overall list (so Eric knew what I needed from him and I knew what I needed to do).  I still have to clear out ALOT of craft stuff and organize and just oh!my!  Its a lot.  THEN I have to turn it into a nursery.  

But... this week brought the quilt for the big bed, the crib, and frames for the wall.  We ordered the flooring and got the rug a few weeks ago.  We also found the dresser that we will hopefully go back and get this weekend.  I have all the ideas in my head and nursery 'things' are appearing at the house, but there is just a lot of work between now and a finished nursery.

Anyway.... I am feeling the same as the past few weeks.  Big, backaches, and heartburn.  But we had a cold snap this week and I've been digging through my old maternity stuff for cold weather maternity wear.  UGH!  I forgot how much sweaters and warm clothes aren't great maternity wear (although I guess I am glad that I don't have to wear bathing suits and sundresses and bear 100+ heat).  So... this is a new outfit (and not actually maternity) but I feel like I might be buying some better 'warm' layers for this winter.

Weeks 24 and 25

Clearly I missed posting my "belly photo" on time last week - but I did take it so I will just post it with today's belly shot.  I still feel bigger than last time, but weight wise I am actually a pound lighter :)

24 weeks

24 weeks

(Ugh!  These self-photos are terrible!!  and out of focus - sorry)
I am still having trouble with my back (left shoulder blade and lower) and some pain low in the front (ligaments stretching I'm told).  And of course my dear old friend heartburn is here to stay.  I even wake up at like 4am with terrible heartburn (that I didn't go to bed with).  It is already my constant companion.  I am trying to continue to eat tomatoes and dairy and things that I know give me heartburn though because when I gave them up with little e then he got reflux every time I tried to eat them and nurse (I guess from not being used to them).

25 weeks

25 weeks

You are super active.  I think you have hiccups half of the day - it really cracks me up.  When you aren't just hiccuping you are moving around or kicking.  I feel like my whole belly jumps sometimes when you kick.  Your daddy has still only felt it once since you are so stubborn.
The doctor was trying to get your heartbeat Monday at our last appt and after the third time of finding it and you immediately moving from the doppler he started to laugh and said 'if she would ever sit still.' I told him you don't do too much of that and he laughed, 'Yes, I can see that.  I think you are going to have your hands full.'  Yes, Doc - so do we.

23 Weeks

Mom was here this week and took my 23 week photo for me.  We also created a pretty great fall mantle (check that one off the bucket list) and decided to take my picture in front of it.

I am feeling pretty good still.  Some lower back pain and increasing heartburn (oh no!) but otherwise good.  I swear e weighs 15 lbs more than he used to.  I can't hardly pick him up or carry him 10 feet to the car.  Up the stairs for bedtime is a workout in itself and I'm trying to get him to 'walk holding mommy's hand like a big boy' but sometimes that just not what he wants to do.  

Oh - I also cut my hair!! (which you might have noticed already).  I love it!!  I think it is a bit lighter in person than it photographs and angles up to the back.  I am still hoping the face doesn't balloon up during the rest of the pregnancy and make it a bad choice - but for now I'm really happy with it.  Love the change.

Really hoping this isn't the last picture of mom and me before Little Miss arrives.  Not sure we will be able to travel home for Christmas and otherwise we don't have plans to see each other again until the birth.  Makes me sad :(  Hoping maybe we find a really inexpensive flight over a long weekend and get her (and maybe dad next time too!) here one more time before February.  

Anniversary Weekend

We headed back to the mountains this weekend to celebrate our anniversary properly (sans kiddo and other family). Only problem being a trip with just the two of us didn't allow for much more than another  'self-portrait' when we finally remembered on Sunday.

Saturday we spent just shopping (after an amazing breakfast at Tupelo Honey).  We talked about the Biltmore or hiking but decided we have been joking about a 'shopping spree' for awhile (Eric was in desperate need of new clothes) and I wasn't in much shape to go hiking all weekend. I also wasn't in much shape to spend my $ on new clothes so I shopped for baby girl's nursery (so fun!!  can't wait to get it all done and show you) and YARN!!  We found the cutest town and greatest yarn shop I've been to in years in Black Mnt, NC.
I hate to admit that we rented a cabin for the weekend and in our rush didn't check the 'amenities'.  - BAD IDEA!!  Its the Saturday of the Clemson (#3) v. FSU (#5) game and we don't have a TV in our cabin.  Luckily we worked out staying at my uncles cabin not too far away - unluckily it wasn't a good game and really ugly for us Clemson fans.
We comforted ourselves with AMAZING apple cider donuts the next morning and all was right with the world again :)

It was freezing!!  41 degrees so we decided just to head home and get back to our little man!  We had a great time celebrating our anniversary and mommy enjoyed her first weekend away in two years.

22 Weeks

Hiccups...Hiccups....Hiccups.  I don't remember feeling them but maybe once or twice with e but this morning I WOKE UP to you hiccuping!  How funny.  It was almost alarm clock time so I told your dad - 'She has the hiccups'  - and he was thoroughly confused.  'The baby?' he asked after about an entire minute - lol.  Then of course even though you had my whole belly shaking and woke me up you stopped immediately after he rolled over to feel.  STUBBORN lady!
Moving on to the weekly part of this post.  I actually wrote my 20 week update around 21 weeks and haven't been taking weekly photos until now (part of why I want to blog so I hold myself accountable to keeping good track like I did for your brother).  So this is actually my 22 week photo from Wednesday.

 
Today is Friday and we are leaving for the mountains to celebrate our 5th anniversary!!  Little e is staying with his Grammie (my first nights away in 2 years!) and I'm very excited (also a little anxious).  Also this will be my last weekly picture with 'long flowing' locks of hair.  I am sooo tired of it!  Its constantly under a strap of a bag, in e's mouth, in my face or pulled back from all that giving me a headache.  Ever since little e it lays completely flat against my head and I'm just ready for a change.  A little blonder, a lot shorter - hopefully my face doesn't get too much of my baby weight that a short haircut looks ridiculous!!

The Second Time Around - 20 Weeks

Well its been a really really LOOOOOONG time but I realized this space were where all my pregnancy posts from last time were assembled.  Today I went looking to see if I'm really showing so much differently (like I feel) than last time. I was able to see my whole pregnancy week by week (starting at 20 weeks like this time) and hear how I was feeling, what we were working on etc and I really enjoyed it.  So... I'm gonna try to keep up with it again.
Since there are zero to maybe one of you reading this - its probably just for me - but I'm okay with that too.  Cuz maybe -just maybe - I'll do this a third time and have it to look at again.  Without further ado... My 20 week photo w. Baby #2 (she needs a nickname)

This time around I've gained 10 lbs so far (same as last time - tho I started a lb heavier).  We know SHE is a GIRL!!  And mama is super excited about the knitting and sewing and general PINKNESS allowed!  I have been in maternity pants since week 12 - and dresses to avoid them since before that even. I can still wear longer 'normal' shirts for now (maternity ones are still pretty big and long). Though I do feel like I'm carrying higher and feeling 'tighter' than I did last time so early - but I didn't see a huge difference looking at e's 20 week photo.
My lower back hurts quite a bit (but I think thats from bad form picking up little e), and heartburn has started much earlier on.  She started kicking a few weeks back - but this week she has turned into a little ninja! (I love it!!)  I had mulled apple cider earlier this week and that induced her first backflips.  Her daddy has still yet to feel her move b/c she is VERY stubborn.  She stops whenever you put a hand onto the belly (wonder where that stubbornness comes from - we are in REAL trouble!!)

Nursery

Most of you have seen the big nursery reveal on FB but since you are good friends and followers I will show you some more details (including some in process shots to show all of Eric's hard work!)
First - you repaint the khaki into a perfect baby aqua blue (doesn't he look like he is enjoying this painting part?  Miss Kevin came and helped too the weekend I went to Ohio for a shower)

Great color - but eck!  Look at that carpet!!  (really its pretty stained and you can't tell - but worse yet check out the pic below of the unmatching carpet we had between the bedrooms and the hallways)

Mis-Matched Carpet

So Eric ripped up all the carpet... (Mason tried to be helpful too)

Then cleaned up from the disinegrating pad (again - yuck!)

And then started adding our new laminate floors.

In the meantime Matt came over to help rip up the REST of the carpet (in the hallway and down the stairs).  This stuff was REALLY nasty - and probably original to the house in 1984 (eck!) 

Whew!  Look at those fresh wooden steps!  They might have looked nice all refinished (since they are hardwood and all) but Mason is scared of wooden steps and we want him to be able to run up them and hang out with the kiddos upstairs so we got some great new carpet for the hallway and stairs too.

Finished floors!  Carpet in the hall (and up the stairs) and laminate in the bedroom (with our super cool white shag rug!)

The BIG reveal!!  Ta-Da! Our woodland creatures nursery habitat for our little man!

The bedding I made.

A shot of the bedding from the outside.

 Our mommy and baby sweet little reading nook.  (note mom is trying to read baby-wise before baby gets here - not getting too well so far!)

The 'guest room' side of the nursery.  We have the drawers all full of baby clothes and cloth diapers, blankets and other baby things.  The closet is full too (but thats not as 'cute' to look at.)

So there you go - a tour through all of Eric's hard work that made a beautiful canvas for us to create this space for our little man (I guess I did some work too - all that sewing!).  I sure hope he gets here soon to start enjoying it (well - but mostly so we can start enjoying him).