37 weeks: Full Term, Baby!

I'm in disbelief I made it this far, and that our little girl can safely join us at any time! Not that I hope she comes early, as uncomfortable as I am. I would prefer no surprises and that she'll join us on her scheduled date of June 11. I'd really like to be mentally and physically prepared (showered, bags packed, hair done, camera charged, etc), and I'm not quite there. Although, I've always thought it would be fun to experience my water breaking on it's own and rushing to the hospital like they do in the movies..haha.

Physically I'm barely holding up. I'm pretty sure she's dropped. I'm having so much pressure and pain very low, that after sitting at my desk for an hour or two, I can barely walk. Literally. I have to stand up and hold the underside of my belly for a good 2-3 minutes and wait for the sharp pains to subside, and then I can attempt to walk. Ouch.

And can we talk about heartburn? What is this evil thing? I escaped heartburn altogether my first pregnancy, and didn't start experiencing it until a month or two ago. Now I wake up in the middle of the night with the most excruciating heartburn. I've been keeping a bottle of Tums next to the toilet since I'm up to pee so much and I it's been helping a little.

I had one or two days of swelling (my feet were a little swollen) but that subsided. I'm still lucky enough to be wearing my wedding rings although today they seem to be a bit tight. I don't know how I escaped that so I'm pretty happy, but I remember getting incredibly swollen after my c-section last time from the IV fluids so I should probably take my jewelry off now while I still can. I also had my blood pressure creep up on me at the end of Carter's pregnancy, and this time it's way low. Like just above too low, low. I am overweight and 9 months pregnant and I have the blood pressure of an athlete. Go figure.

I also have no idea how I managed to gain only 12 pounds. Seriously. I actually lost a pound at my last appointment, but the baby is growing at a stellar rate so I couldn't be happier. I wish I felt as good as all of this sounds, but I still feel like my body is broken and I'm unable to do very basic things. Getting up out of bed at night to pee is the worst. I have no stomach muscles, and it takes everything I've got to push myself up and off the bed, and then I experience sharp stabbing pains with every step I take. I feel like, at any moment, the baby, placenta and all, will just drop right out of me.

I know I will miss every second of this in another month or so and who knows when or if I'll get to be pregnant again so I'm trying to savor every last day as much as I want to meet her already.

My official last day of work is June 6th! I'm working right up until I have her minus two days. I thought I owed myself at least two days to square things away at home, but knowing me, I'll probably come into the office just because I won't know what to do with myself. I'm constantly busy, and complaining about it, but the minute I have a moment to myself, I have to fill it with something. Before Carter was born I would have loved some free-time, but now I'm pretty content with just going, going, going all the time. Especially at 9 months pregnant, I feel like if I sit still, I'll just end up watching the clock tick waiting for this baby to be born. I wish I could physically accomplish what my mind wants it to.

Sorry for the ramble of emotions, but that's all I got! In a little over two weeks our baby girl will be here and this will all be a distant memory. Please say a prayer for a safe delivery and a healthy baby girl. It's all I care about.

Olivia's Nursery!

We're done! Sort of. I still feel like I'm not finished, but I must be crazy, right?

I now present to you our finished(ish) nursery!

9 days until full-term, 26 days to go!

Maternity Pictures!

Last weekend my friend Lauren from Lauren West Photography took my maternity pictures! The location was breathtaking, and I'm so happy with the way they turned out.

Head on over to Lauren's blog to check out some of the favorites of the day: Michelle, Andy, Carter: Waiting for Olivia! I'm in love and can't wait to order prints to frame around our house.

Thank you Lauren for an amazing shoot!

Xo,

P.S.

28 days to go!!!

33 Weeks

Man. I had such high hopes at the beginning of this pregnancy of blogging my progress every single week with cute belly photos, and I realize that I deserve a big fat fail for that one. I haven't really taken one decent photo of myself (besides my iPhone pictures), but my lovely, amazing and talented friend Lauren from Lauren West Photography will be taking maternity pictures of me this Saturday. I've never had "professional" photos taken before so I'm really excited to document this time in my life, and get some cute family pictures that I can frame.

These last few weeks are so freakin exciting and overwhelming that I might actually do a post for each week because it's all my mind thinks about these days. When your stomach is the size of a bowling ball, and you're in pain every time you move, it's kind of hard to think about anything else but. I feel like I have so MUCH work to do to get caught up and prepped for my maternity leave, but I have no motivation to work on it. Miraculously, my sales are doing really well (I'm a commission based insurance agent) even with all the added distractions so that is good. I'm trying not to worry too much about it because I know I'll never get this time in my life back again to spend with my babies.

Speaking of maternity leave, I plan on taking my full 12 weeks this time. Yes, TWELVE. Considering I only took 6 weeks off for Carter, this will be huge for me. We have a scheduled repeat c-section set for Monday, June 11th, and I'm hoping to work right up until June 8th (Friday). I'm cray, but let me live in my dream world where this will be possible. I'm scheduled to return to work on September 3rd. We plan on keeping Carter in daycare until July 1st so I'll have a good three weeks adjusting to the new baby, and getting some one on one time in with her. After July 1st, my life will change drastically. It will just be ME, home alone, with a newborn and a two year-old. I'm terrified. I'm hoping for the best, but expecting the worst. I'm excited about this time, but naturally nervous. I know I'll survive, but it's going to be really hard.

At 33 weeks, 5 days, I have a little over 5 weeks until my c-section, and a little over 3 weeks until full-term. Since months have been flying by in what feels like days, I know she'll be here before I know it and this will all be a distant memory so I'm trying to savor it. Who knows if and when I'll be pregnant again, and considering our house isn't big enough, it will probably be a long time.

I've had some pre-term labor scares with contractions, but I don't think they're anything but Braxton Hicks so I'm not too worried. I've been checked twice, and so far they haven't made any progress. My doctor thinks everything I'm feeling and experiencing is typical for a 2nd pregnancy. I was prescribed Procardia to stop contractions but due to the side effects I'm weary of taking it. If I feel like I absolutely have to, I will.

I've officially gained 12 pounds this pregnancy, but been asked if I'm having twins twice now. I don't think I'm THAT huge, and I'm baffled why anyone would make a comment on a pregnant woman's size at all. But whatev's, I don't care too much.

34 weeks on Friday and will hopefully have the nursery finished very soon. Things are happenin people!

Baby Showered!

This past Sunday my mom threw me a lovely baby shower. And by threw, I mean let me plan and then decide to try and change all my plans hours before (that's how she rolls).

It turned out to be the most wonderful day, and I still am walking around on a little high from all the love we received.

Even baby Liam came (3 weeks old!)

My momma and I.

I have a maternity shoot scheduled for May (and I'm so excited about it), and the nursery to finish up. I'm most anxious about getting my work squared away at the office, but I know everything will work out (because it has to, right?).

30 Weeks!

I made it to 30 weeks! 30 weeks sounds really pregnant to me and I can't believe in as little as 7 weeks our baby girl could be here, full-term. I thought I would jot down a bit about how I'm feeling at 30 weeks so I don't forget..

Crappy iPhone picture for your viewing pleasure.

Far Along: 30 Weeks 4 Days

Weight Gain: About 10 pounds total, the doctor is very pleased given my starting weight. And I didn't have to give up my sweets (GD test passed!)

Gender: Baby is all girl as confirmed by at least 6 ultrasounds, and counting. I like how they must tell me the gender at every ultrasound appointment, just to make sure.

Labor Signs: I've been feeling a TON of pressure, lower back pain, cramping and round ligament pain the past few weeks. A lot of which have to do with sitting at my desk all day long because I notice I'm not feeling as much pain / pressure on the weekends. I don't think this means anything, but I do know those are signs of early labor so my doctor and I are keeping watch of everything. I'm getting mandatory ultrasounds every two weeks to check my cervical length, fluid and measure the baby. I'm fine with the added precautions but I don't expect her to come earlier than scheduled.

Nursery: We've painted and have a crib, dresser, chair and some art ready to go. I'm itching to get the foundation down and then figure out what we still need after my baby shower on April 22nd.

Birth: Well, I went ahead and scheduled a repeat c-section for June 11th (4 days shy of my due date), and exactly two calendar months from today. I still haven't completely ruled out a VBAC but it's doubtful. Given the reasons why I had a c-section before, I'm not an excellent VBAC candidate. My doctor won't let me wait to go into labor naturally after June 11th, and obviously another induction is just not an option. If by chance I go into labor on my own before June 11th and I'm progressing quickly without medical intervention or complications, will definitely try for a VBAC. I do love the idea of going to the hospital nicely showered, made-up and rested, and then having our baby girl within minutes, but I don't like the idea of having had TWO c-sections and what that will do to my future ability to have children.

Appointments: I'm going every two-weeks right now, and I'm getting fancy ultrasounds each time. I know I'm really lucky because I remember only getting two fancy (high quality) ultrasounds with Carter my entire pregnancy. They measure Olivia top to bottom every two weeks to make sure she is progressing on target. You know how I was worried in the very beginning that she was measuring 4 days behind? Well, I went in for my usual appointment about a month ago and she was measuring two weeks AHEAD. Out of nowhere. She had been consistently measured about 2-4 days behind (I ovulated a few days later than day 14 of my cycle, and I knew that), but having her jump TWO WEEKS ahead was a little scary. Specifically her head and belly were measuring of a 31 weeker and I was 29 weeks. That put her at the 90th percentile for her gestational age. Usually babies measuring in the 90th percentile are concerning for doctors (and can be a sign of gestational diabetes among other things). But I went in two weeks later and they went to check out her size, and she was down to the 78th percentile. Still a big girl by all means (I cringe) but not in a scary / concerning way. With Carter, he measured exact my entire pregnancy. He was always right in the 50% percentile for his size and measured to the day of my gestational age. I think I have one more bi weekly appointment and then I start going every week.

As for how I'm feeling, I'm a combination of terrified, anxious and so freakin excited. In just about 6 weeks I'll have a full-term baby. I really can't wait to meet her, but I have so much at work to catch up on and prepare for my three month absence that until that is squared away, I won't be able to relax. I'm worried she'll come before I'm finished here, but I know if that happens everything will find a way of working out just as it always does.


okaythatisall!

Easter

 Our Easter was very low-key this year as my parents (and sister and brother) are all in Jamaica on a breathtaking tropical get-a-away. It was actually nice to follow some of our Easter traditions with my little trio. I'm also house-sitting for my parents but thankfully the Easter bunny found us and we had a really enjoyable Easter!

 It was nice to be able to use the "Easter bunny isn't going to come if you don't do such and such" as a bribe to get Carter to pick up his toys and behave all weekend. Don't all parents do that? Bribery is my favorite parenting tool.

After Carter opened his Easter basket, we all got ready in our Easter best and headed to brunch at a fancy country club (my parents and I go here every year for Easter brunch and my mom was nice enough to book us a reservation - already paid for - so we could continue the tradition). They also have an Easter egg hunt and petting zoo for the kids so Carter was psyched all morning. I mentioned the petting zoo part to him while we were getting ready and then next thing I know Carter wouldn't stop talking about how excited he was to go to the zoo. He wanted to see lions and jaguars (I don't know where he comes up with this stuff) and I kept trying to correct him that we weren't going to the zoo, but it was too late.

It ended up being a much smaller petting zoo than normal with a few bunnies, chickens, a goat and two lambs, but he still loved it.

Best picture of the day. 

30 weeks!

Later on we took my parents dogs to the dog park, and I cooked an Easter feast. I missed my family but it was also nice to spend the holiday with my little family.

By the way, all weekend Carter would not stop using the phrase "Oh my God." I guess there are worse phrases he could be repeating right now..