Motherhood
The three of us are beginning to settle in at home together. We brought Emma home yesterday afternoon and it’s already been a whirlwind. Soon, I will be sharing my birth story, more photos from the hospital, and what life is like in the new mommy club. So stay tuned!
{Credit: Bella Baby Photography}
I am overflowing with love.
Today is my due date! We have made it! *Rocky theme plays in background*
Don’t let this smile fool you because I have six words for you - GET THIS BABY OUT OF ME. Do I sound a bit cranky? I have been having Braxton Hicks/pre-labor contractions for days and days and days and days... {you get the picture}. I’m swollen, tired, sore, and moody and I am beyond ready for this baby to make her grand debut so let’s get this party started.
This last month was exciting with our second baby shower, getting all the baby’s furniture ready, and washing and folding all the clothing and blankets.
Baby is the size of a jackfruit or small pumpkin and can weigh anywhere between 6 and 9 pounds at this point. I wouldn’t mind if she was on the lower end of that spectrum.
She could win the gold medal in synchronized swimming because with all the limb flailing and twisty movements, she’s ready to join the USA women’s team.
I am pretty much living in sweat pants, yoga pants, and oversized shirts. I got dressed up for Easter Sunday and I was like, “oh yeah, there I am!”
I am easily annoyed {which is quite an understatement}. If one more person asks me when baby is coming I may unleash the Kraken. Don’t you think I would be much happier if I knew the answer to that question?
I am still hovering around 30 lbs gained which is perfectly average, so that’s good I guess.
Hospital bag, baby bag, car seat, and birthing ball are loaded up in the car ready to go.
I have been scouring Pinterest for helpful labor induction techniques and old wives tales. I’m pretty much willing to try anything at this point. Pineapple, spicy food, long walks, dancing, baths, you name it, I am trying it.
Thankfully now that I have reached my due date, I can say with certainty that she will be here soon. I am hoping that I get amnesia for these last few weeks though.
I hope to see you very soon sweet baby. All I want to do is to hold you in my arms.
Check out previous months here.
Happy Earth Day everyone!
These last few weeks of pregnancy have been pretty rough, physically and emotionally. Even so, I feel incredibly blessed to be pregnant and to be expanding our little family. I am very excited to share some of our maternity photos that we took a couple of weekends ago. They turned out so beautifully and I am so glad that we were able to capture this time in our lives.
Credit: Belles and Whistles Photography
Holy moly, I’m 38 weeks pregnant today.
This past week has been crazy in pregnancy land. Last Tuesday, my OB said I was already {TMI alert} ripening and dilated. Thursday and Friday, my body was showing lots of other {gross} signs that we were gearing up for labor. And Saturday I woke up with pretty intense and frequent contractions to the point that we spent all day at the hospital monitoring baby and me. The contractions got as close as 4 min apart and I had more cervical changes - then everything just stopped. Cut to us heading home from the hospital around 11 pm with my tail between my legs feeling embarrassed.
Okay, who is this Braxton Hicks person, and where may I find him? Prodromal labor or practice labor, whatever you want to call it, is quite frustrating when you are ready to get this baby out of here. I know, I know…baby will come when she’s ready, but this momma is over this whole being pregnant thing.
{Credit: Belles and Whistles Photography}
And this is what I find myself saying pretty much all the time:
“Hey, will you tie my shoes?"
"Will you fill up my water when you get a chance?"
"Okay I need help off this couch."
"I have to pee AGAIN?!?”
“And there’s a foot.”
“Ouch, OW, OUCHIES, YOWZA, STAHP.”
“Is my uterus hard or is that the baby’s butt?”
Aren’t I just a ray of sunshine - a sweaty, cranky, fussy ray of sunshine.
I am so ready for this, the good and the bad. I’m ready for sleepless nights. I’m ready to not waddle around like a drunken penguin. I’m ready to change diapers with one hand in the dark while leaking breast milk. I’m ready to not feel like a watermelon is crushing my pelvis. I’m ready to fall more in love with my husband when I see him as a father. I’m ready to have no more money. And mostly, I’m ready to meet my perfect little girl.
{Credit: Belles and Whistles Photography}
HOW FAR ALONG? 38 weeks.
TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN: 30 lbs! Hello weight gain catch-up.
MATERNITY CLOTHES? I’m repeating the same shirt-yoga pants combo. Sexy.
STRETCH MARKS? Nope.
SLEEP:What’s that? Between peeing every five seconds and my restless mind, sleep is a thing of the past.
MISS ANYTHING? Not feeling like a stuffed turkey.
MOVEMENT: All. The. Time. Clearly, this girl doesn’t sleep.
FOOD CRAVINGS: Pancakes and waffles with whipped cream.
SYMPTOMS: Same as always, heart burn, back ache, pelvic pain, round ligament pain, frequent urination, head ache, swelling of my hands and feet, anxiety, hot flashes, and nesting.
BELLY BUTTON IN OR OUT? Out and proud.
WEDDING RINGS ON OR OFF? Off. My fingers look like little sausages.
HAPPY OR MOODY MOST OF THE TIME: Very moody. Sorry to anyone who crosses my path!
LOOKING FORWARD TO: Welcoming our little one into the world.
Check out previous updates here.
We could be looking at another day, another week, or {gasp} another 2-3 weeks. I hope these lovely prodromal contractions turn into the full-fledged, real deal labor contractions.
As Peter, Paul, and Mary put it: All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go.
Saturday, Paul and I celebrated our second baby shower with our families and friends in my hometown. My mom, sister, and friends, Cassie and Katie hosted our Harry Potter themed shower and I had a wonderful time. I did not take as many pictures as I would have liked, but I was engrossed in the guests and the fun.
My best friends came together to celebrate with me and our families were just so generous. I was very moved by how much love was poured out for us. This little child is already so blessed to have these people in her life. I just cannot believe our good fortune. God is good.
Here are just some of my favorites from the day.
Cassie, Mariah, me, Katie, and Allisun.
My mother painted this gorgeous watercolor with the baby’s ultrasound image in the center.
Baby’s first tennis outfit.
Katie painted this one.
Our car was filled to the brim on our drive home. We unloaded everything on Sunday night and everything filled our living room and kitchen! All the baby stuff is now ready to go! I know I have said it before, but I just cannot wait to meet our little one.