40 Weeks = Full Term!

I feel: ready! Come out, come out, wherever you are!

Happy or Moody: Happy at home and irritable at work. My patience with people is running thin… Must be a pregnant woman syndrome?

Showing: Definitely. Feeling as big as a house.

Maternity Clothes: The few maternity clothes I have and maxi dresses & skirts with long tanks. I’m beginning to fill out my maternity clothes a little too much… M better get here soon!

Exercise: Long dog walks. Totally buying into the “Walks can induce labor” wives’ tale… Hey, if they doesn’t then at least I’m exercising, right?

Miss Anything: Ready for cute clothes and bikinis.

Anything make you sick/queasy: No

Movement: Slower and less frequent but still lots of stretching out (as much as she can anyway). I am so curious to see how big (and especially how LONG) she’ll be when she arrives!

Excited for: M’s arrival. Isn’t it obvious?

Favorite Moment of the Week: Another weekend spent pre-baby with Mike.

 

Well, McKenna’s due date has come and gone. She won’t be a Star Wars baby, and, considering there are only 4 1/2 hours left in the day, she won’t be a Cinco de Mayo baby either. I have not had one noticeable contraction yet – including Braxton Hicks contractions – so I am not sure what she’s waiting on. I will have another doctor’s appointment on Wednesday afternoon for a check up to see if my dilation/effacement has progressed since last week. Last week I was 2-3 cm dilated (slightly more than the week prior) and 80% effaced. So something’s happening which is good. It’s just not happening fast enough for my taste. ; )

A few weeks ago I hit the 38 week mark in my pregnancy where every person I spoke to and every thing I read said, “Baby could technically come at any time now! What day will it be?!” So you sit through each day anticipating that moment. Now that I’ve passed the 40 week mark, my brain has done this weird thing where it’s tricked me into thinking I’m never actually going to have a baby. Like, I’ve just been pregnant for the last 10 months for funsies and I’ll just be pregnant forever. Obviously this isn’t the case, but you get so used to being pregnant that when you actually get to the part where you could be a mom/dad any day now – it’s totally weird. Super exciting and really awesome, but so weird to think that, “Oh, I won’t have this belly forever. I can drink alcohol and eat raw fish and dress normally again? Cool.”

So we’ll see when she gets here! Keep sending positive vibes our way. I’ve been told I won’t have to get induced judging by my body’s progression and my anatomy in general, but judging by M’s lack of movement either she’s out to prove us wrong or she’s out to make this a very quick delivery process.

 

39 Weeks & Waiting

I feel: impatient! And it’s not even my due date yet. Where are you, M!?

Happy or Moody: Happy at home and irritable at work. My patience with people is running thin… Must be a pregnant woman syndrome?

Showing: Definitely. Feeling as big as a house. Every time Mike sees my bare stomach his reaction is “Whoa.” And people who haven’t seen me in the last couple weeks have had literally the same response. So obviously things are changing!

Maternity Clothes: The belly has definitely dropped because I now find my bump hanging out the bottom of tank tops that used to give me lots of coverage down there. I remember when I first got pregnant I saw a woman at Walmart with her bump hanging out of her shirt and thought it was unbelievably trashy… Of course now I feel terrible because the same thing happened to me the other day at Marshall’s, and I had been walking around for goodness knows how long and didn’t even notice it! I can’t see my feet let alone the bottom of my stomach.

Exercise: Long dog walks.

Miss Anything: Ready for cute clothes and bikinis again… Whenever I get the pre-baby body back of course. I also miss talking about anything but being pregnant. When something consumes so much of your life it’s hard not to talk about – that’s all you do/are! I realize the conversations will probably switch to baby once she’s here, but any change will be better.

Anything make you sick/queasy: No

Movement: Her movements have slowed which is hopefully a sign of her getting ready. But she’s definitely still moving! Right now she’s sitting very heavy on my right hand side with her butt pressed (pretty hard) up against the front of my stomach.

Excited for: M to be here! Her due date is THIS SUNDAY!  I’m growing steadily impatient, and I still have 6 days until her due date. I can’t imagine how I’ll feel if I go past her due date (which if she has any of my stubbornness, I probably will).

Favorite Moment of the Week: Spending time with great friends this weekend and literally doing nothing on Sunday but vegging and laundry.

Last Wednesday’s doctor’s appointment was an interesting one. I hit the 30 lb. mark – something I was really hoping wouldn’t happen. But it did. I’m beginning to realize that you virtually have next to no control over pregnancy weight gain (besides not eating everything in sight).  I’ve added a lot of water weight these last few weeks as my feet and hands have started to get puffy – especially when I’ve been sitting outside. The ankles are still mostly in tact from what I can tell and nothing is bothering me too much. I gained hardly anything my first two trimesters and thought I would make it under the average 25-35 lb. weight gain for my whole pregnancy. Then third trimester happened and BOOM! Here grows baby. I’m not concerned seeing as how the average woman loses about 12 lbs. within the first week after delivery between the baby, placenta and amniotic fluid. With successful breastfeeding (fingers crossed!) and working out once I’ve been approved, I’ll be on my way to post-baby wedding body in no time! (Sounds like an entirely new blog series, don’t you think?)

My irritability is starting to get the best of me. Especially in the morning. And especially at work. I can’t imagine how I am going to feel when I have to go back to work after maternity leave… I don’t even want to think about it! Luckily McKenna’s Aunt Sanie (my older sister, Stephanie) had impeccable timing when she Dropbox’ed some of the songs she recorded for McKenna – her baby shower present to us (and a personal request I had made). It really cheered (and teared) me up listening! I’ve included one of the songs in this post in case you missed it on my Facebook page.

Cross your fingers that Little M is on her way! I know she’ll get here eventually, but we’re ready for her now!

Here Comes the Sun – Stephanie Scarcella feat. Heather Smist

38 Weeks!

I feel: over it. What little glamour I found in being pregnant is gone. I’m just ready to meet her already!

Happy or Moody: How about anxious? Or antsy? I’m just trying to relax until she gets her.

Showing: Yes – and dropping more every day. I can start to feel the weight and pressure in my crotch.

Maternity Clothes: Rockin’ maxi dresses and skirts, my maternity capris and shorts, lots of tank tops with cardigans and v-neck t-shirts. The only pre-pregnancy clothes I wear now are jackets/cardigans. At home it’s as little clothes as possible – I’m hot all the time! And some t-shirts I was comfortable wearing before are proving to be shorter – a sure sign the belly is getting lower 🙂

Exercise: Dog walks. Walking as much as I can!

Miss Anything: Ready for cute clothes and bikinis again… Whenever I get the pre-baby body back of course.

Anything make you sick/queasy: No

Movement: Shifts from my left side to my right side. Again, hope she’s getting into the right position for arrival!

Excited for: M’s arrival! Especially now that the nursery is finished (to be revealed later this week) and our hospital bags are packed.

Favorite Moment of the Week: Getting to spend time with Mike and enjoying dinner on Saturday night at our favorite South Tampa Italian restaurant Vino e Pasta.

This weekend was focused on finishing up the nursery and picking up the miscellaneous baby items left around the house (which have been driving poor Mike absolutely bonkers… Can’t wait ’til the baby is here and leaves her toys everywhere). I’m saving the nursery reveal post for later this week (Eeep!), but I did want to share the contents of mine and M’s hospital bags.

Disclaimer: there are some personal, feminine items that are bound to make those with more conservative or childish mindsets uncomfortable. Either get over it or feel free to leave this post.

My bag:

• A comfortable, loose and very soft pair of pajamas for after delivery
• A nursing tank as well as a regular, loose fitting tank and stretchy yoga capris for the trip home
• 2 nursing bras
• 3 pairs of underwear I could care less about (I actually bought them  in a 6-pack from Walmart with postpartum messiness in mind… I haven’t bought underwear in a 6-pack since I was like, well, 6.)
• Super absorbent, winged overnight pads from Always (Also haven’t bought those in over a decade.)
• Shower flip flops
• Travel size: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, Vaseline & deodorant
• Antibacterial for myself and all the guests who want to come around Baby M
• A hairbrush & headband (I always have a ponytail holder around my wrist so no need to pack that)
• Cell phone charger

 

M’s bag (all washed and ready for M!):

• 2 receiving blankets (cuter than the ones at the hospital)
• 1 swaddle blanket
• onesies in 2 different sizes – Newborn & 0-3 months. A few short sleeves and a few long sleeves
• Mittens
• A newborn pacifier (not sure we’ll use it, but just in case)
• M’s first aid and grooming kit
• M will be coming home in the pink and white ombre knit blankie her great-grandma knit for her and a one of her headbands or her bow cap

I also put together small gifts for our nurses/doctor as a token of our appreciation for all their help– mini antibacterial hand gels from Bath & Body Works and chocolates

 

April 19, 2013-2014: Then & Now

Throughout this pregnancy, I like to have a little fun and ask Mike what he was doing a year ago on whatever day it is. I tend to ask on holidays (it’s easier to remember), but it’s an interesting way to learn things about each other that we may not have already known and an even better way to really marvel at how far we’ve come since then. Well, we’ve finally hit that point where one year ago today we were in each other’s lives.

One year ago today (and in about 10 more hours), I was walking through the parking lot of Four Green Fields in downtown with one of my best friends and roommate at the time, Candice, about to meet some guy she knew all because of some goofy photo of me she posted from our trip to Miami the weekend prior. 

The photo that started it all.

I remember walking in and telling her it still wasn’t too late to turn around. We could go do something else. Just ditch them (Mike and his friends). I was content being single. I wasn’t pursuing anyone at the time and in fact had just sworn off dating or trying to meet anyone – sounds like something someone who is content being single would do, right? But when Candice told me Mike wanted to meet me, she also said something to the effect of, “He’s also tall, good looking and really laid back. Maybe that’s what you need.”

If something happens, it happens. If not, I’m right back to where I was before. What have I got to lose?

Well something happened. I met Mike, and I was hooked.

And now here we are, one year later, engaged and running errands to finish the nursery before heading out to dinner to enjoy what will be one of the last weekends of just him and I before our daughter makes her debut in the world. (We’re also celebrating our one year of meeting, but I threw that in there. He probably thinks it’s cheesy, but it’s a great excuse to go to our favorite Italian restaurant in town.)

Photo Credit: Catherine Ann Photography

Some days I sit here and can’t believe that thanks to some weird Instagram picture of me (and Candice for posting it) that I met my very best friend – this tall, handsome, strong willed, hardworking goofball of a man who loves me, provides for me and wants to spend the rest of his life with me and our soon-to-be pretty little girl – the pregnancy thing is a hard one to believe still, too. 

But I am so blessed. And for all of the family and friends that have supported us, encouraged us and been excited for us throughout this wild ride and will continue to do so – we’re blessed to have you in our lives, too!

And did I mentioned he’s just strong, too? Photo Credit: Catherine Ann Photography

37 Weeks!

I feel: way too awake for 10:30 p.m. on a week night.

Happy or Moody: I guess moody is a good word. Current state is happy, however the mood does seem to shift quickly between happy, irritable and emotional… Oh pregnancy, hormones.

Showing: Yes – and I think she may be starting to drop!

Maternity Clothes: Rockin’ maxi dresses and skirts, my maternity capris and shorts, lots of tank tops with cardigans and v-neck t-shirts. The only pre-pregnancy clothes I wear now are jackets/cardigans and the items I know I won’t stretch out and destroy.

Exercise: Dog walks.

Miss Anything: Wedges. I wore some for a wedding the other weekend and it’s just not the same. Not only was it next to impossible to bend over to put them on, but, in addition to the uncomfortable factor, not being able to see them when I look down makes it that much more pointless.

Anything make you sick/queasy: No

Movement: Her movements are still frequent but have gotten slower and less aggressive. Now she feels more like she’s rearranging herself (hopefully getting ready)

Excited for: the nursery to FINALLY be finished this Saturday.

Favorite Moment of the Week: Getting our maternity photos taken by Katie & John at Catherine Ann Photography and getting to review the photos!

The 37-week mark started with our maternity photo shoot on Sunday evening with Katie and John at Catherine Ann Photography. Katie and I have been friends for a few years now, and it was a no brainer when I found out I was pregnant that she would take our maternity photos. She and John will also be shooting our wedding photos for that event next year. I love their use of natural light in all of their photography, and they are so friendly and make it so comfortable to work with!

This was Mike and my first time getting professional photographs taken together, and will probably be our last until the wedding. I think we did pretty well together 🙂 We got to review our photos with John and Katie tonight, and they are INCREDIBLE! We got some great baby/belly shots and some great overall couple shots. Of course, I wound up buying all the digitals because I just can’t say no to great photographs. And when else is this kind of event going to happen, right!? Never.

This afternoon I had my weekly check up. It was a new experience because I got to visit with the midwife at the women’s clinic I frequent. For those who don’t know, I am a patient at Partners in OB/GYN, a clinic with a division in Tampa. At the clinic, patients cycle through different doctors each week so that you can meet each one before your delivery. You are not guaranteed one particular doctor during delivery as any of them could be on call at that time (let’s face it, that’s life), so they allow you to get to know each one. I must admit, I was a little skeptical at first, but now I really appreciate getting to meet new doctors and hearing their opinions about different things. The midwife I met with, Dr. Edmonson, had a great perspective on natural birth at St. Joseph’s as well as some great advice for those moments when I feel as though I am starting to go into labor. She recommended:

• Staying at home as long as I can before admitting myself to the hospital. This is partially because home is much more comfortable than the hospital and also because, once admitted to the hospital, they do not allow you to eat or drink until delivery. This I was SO happy she told me and had no idea.Who would deprive a woman about to go through something more labor intensive than a marathon of food and water?!
• If I start having 5-1-1 contractions (5 minutes apart, 1 minute long for 1 consecutive hour) and the doctor finds out I am less than 4-5 cm dilated, ask to go home for a few hours or walk around outside for a few hours before coming back to get checked and admitted.
• During the labor process, walk around, sit on the medicine ball, etc. as much as possible. The minute you start laying on your back on the hospital bed, the pain of contractions can become more focused and more intense than if you are moving around and putting your focus elsewhere.

Dr. Edmonson also did a cervix exam and said that I have plenty of pelvic room for natural birth (Yay!). She also mentioned that Baby M should have no problem arriving on her (without induction) as she was already slightly dilated and the cervix was softening. Dr. Edmonson could actually feel M’s head through the amniotic sack during the exam, which of course I found absolutely amazing.

This week I finished packing mine & M’s hospital bag and preparing the small gifts for our nurses. Stay tuned for that post soon.

I know last week I promised a nursery post, but unfortunately it didn’t get completed last weekend. We tried, but there were a few things that need to be purchased to hang some last minute things, and we didn’t have time to run out and get them. The nursery WILL get finished this weekend because a.) Mike can’t take the clutter and b.) frankly, we’re just running out of time, so a nursery update will be provided then.

36 Weeks

I feel: tired, but much more relaxed.

Happy or Moody: Happy.

Showing: Yes

Maternity Clothes: Rockin’ maxi dresses and skirts, my maternity capris and shorts, lots of tank tops with cardigans and v-neck t-shirts. The last pair of pre-pregnancy jeans were retired on Friday.

Exercise: Dog walks.

Miss Anything: Sushi.

Anything make you sick/queasy: Mike packed his lunch this morning (chicken) and the smell of poultry at 6:15 a.m. made me want to barf.

Movement: Her movements are still pretty big (not all the time, but a lot) for how little room she’s supposed to have. She was doing a lot of moving around last night so I am hoping she was repositioning and getting ready for arrival in the next month or so!

Excited for: our maternity photos this weekend with Catherine Ann Photography!

Favorite Moment of the Week: Spending the weekend with our closest family and friends – I didn’t want it to end and wish we had more time with everyone!

This weekend was much more exciting and less stressful than I imagined it to be. I had an amazing time with Michael’s family in Bradenton celebrating his mom’s birthday and our baby shower. I met a lot of his relatives that I hadn’t met yet (including his older sister and her family), and I felt so comfortable with everyone right off the bat, which was wonderful.

Vanessa & Kyle’s wedding in Clearwater on Saturday was gorgeous! I wouldn’t have expected anything less from the newlyweds. It was great being able to celebrate with them! I realized that Baby M has been to 4 weddings thus far! Quite the crasher.
Our baby shower couldn’t have been more successful thanks to my mom, Mike’s parents, Mike’s sisters and his aunt. Everyone worked so hard to put it together for us. A huge thank you to our guests as well – I was so happy with who turned up and felt incredibly blessed with those that traveled far distances to make it for the occasion. Of course there were some who couldn’t make it, but I know they were celebrating with us in spirit. I’ve included some photos from the shower in this post.

Mike and I both took Monday off to recover from the weekend’s activities. We dedicated most of Monday to working on the nursery and putting items from the shower away. We got a lot done! I am determined to finish the nursery on Saturday (with some help from him of course), so hopefully next week’s post will include the great nursery reveal.

The drink & dessert table

The gift table – so incredibly humbling!

My gorgeous mama & grandma-to-be!

Mike’s family (& my future in-laws!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34 Weeks

I feel: exhausted!

Happy or Moody: Happy, anxious and on-edge (about the littlest things) would explain things these days.

Showing: I’m pretty sure my stomach is stretching as I write this.

Maternity Clothes: Rockin’ maxi dresses and skirts, my maternity capris and shorts, 1 pair of pre-pregnancy jeans (YAY! for low rise jeans), lots of tank tops with cardigans and v-neck t-shirts.

Exercise: Dog walks. It doesn’t seem like much, but I do attribute the 2-3/day that we go on a huge reason I haven’t gained more weight.

Miss Anything: Being able to order something with bleu cheese, gorgonzola cheese or feta cheese on it. Never thought I’d care, but some of the yummiest sounding salads at restaurants have these on them (part of what makes them taste so good!). Soft cheeses are a no-no for a few more weeks.

Anything make you sick/queasy: Nope

Movement: Tons. She is still jabbing me, but has been a pretty consistent roll-arounder the last week or so.

Excited for: the baby shower next weekend (among the other big events we have going on).

Favorite Moment of the Week: Spending the weekend with Mike, and the girls’ night in on Saturday!

The doctor’s appointment last week went very well. I’ve gained 22 lbs. since my first doctor’s appointment back in September and will probably gain at least another 4 (considering the baby will be gaining at least another 2-3) before the pregnancy is over. All of that being said, I am grateful to have no stretch marks (yet) and the majority of my belly button is still an inny (although it’s trying really hard not to be!). Baby M’s head has been down the past few weeks (woohoo!) and should stay down until she’s ready to arrive. Great, great news for me.

Last Saturday Mike and I went to AirFest 2014 at MacDill Air Force Base. We literally live 4.3 miles from Base, and with all of the traffic it took us an hour just to get there! It was worth walking around and enjoying the gorgeous sunshine and the weather though.

On Saturday night, about 10 of Mike’s closest guy friends came to the house, dropped some diapers off and took him out to SoHo for the night. This was sort of his “last hoorah” before fatherhood. Not that we won’t get nights off once Baby M is born, but obviously they will be much fewer and farther in between. While they were out, about 10 of my girlfriends hung with me at the house. We munched and gossiped and had a really great time.

Next weekend is finally the baby shower! The closer it gets, the more ready I am for it to be over. I didn’t realize how tired I would be by this point. Don’t get me wrong – I’m still very excited! Just ready for the planning to be over. That weekend we also will be celebrating Mike’s Mom’s birthday with lots of out-of-town/state family (my first time meeting most of them!), and our friends’ wedding is that weekend as well. Needless to say I am taking that following Monday off to use as a relaxation day.

That being said, the nursery is getting closer to being finished! Can’t wait to have the bedding from Grandma next weekend! She’s been sending me progress pictures, and it’s so stinking cute!

33 Weeks

I feel: A bit more rested than last week.

Happy or Moody: Happy. I wouldn’t use the word moody, but irritable might be better.

Showing: Yes

Maternity Clothes: Splurged a little this weekend at Old Navy. I bought a pair of denim shorts to wear on the weekends, ankle-length denim jeans for work, and the linen pants I’m wearing in the photo for casual/comfy days out (but can still be cute!). I also bought 2 spring/summer maternity-specific shirts so that I can stop stretching my normal shirts out.

Exercise: Dog walks. It doesn’t seem like much, but I do attribute the 2-3/day that we go on a huge reason I haven’t gained more weight.

Miss Anything: Medium rare steak (again), and I was thinking about ahi tuna this weekend.

Anything make you sick/queasy: Nope

Movement: Tons – all day long! She’s big enough now that I can tell the difference between her kicks, punches, stretches and rolls. Today I got to see some of her quick punches/kicks out of my side. It was pretty awesome.

Excited for: my doctor’s appointment on Friday. Starting with this one they will be every 2 weeks, and then every week after that. When I’m actually at the doctor I am tired of being there, but I always look forward to an appointment so that I can hear that Baby M is still doing well. I’m kind of interested to see how much weight I’ve gained, too!

Favorite Moment of the Week: Not doing anything baby-related. Sounds silly, but it was nice to take a weekend and not do anything for Baby M or the nursery. I think I needed it. My brain needed a break. Back to the grind though!

I was feeling pretty indifferent about having to buy maternity clothes yesterday. I only have 7 weeks to go and was hoping to be able to depend on  what few of my pants might still fit or the maxi skirts and maxi dresses I already had. Unfortunately, there’s only so many times you can wear jeans in a row before you start to feel like a grease ball (even if you wash them in between)  and the combos of maxi skirts and dresses were getting limited. So I went out and bought a few warmer weather pieces at Old Navy. Luckily the location at Westshore Mall has a decent selection and it’s relatively well-priced. To be honest, it’s a huge relief to have these items. My mom told me from the get-go to make time to pamper myself while I was pregnant – get my hair done, get manicures and pedicures if/when I could afford to, get dressed up, invest in some cute maternity clothes – and she couldn’t have been more spot on with that advice. It really does make you feel so much better. And, of course, once I have Baby M and no longer have use for the clothes, I’ll tuck them away if there’s ever a next time or someone who can borrow them.

Yesterday after I finished my small shopping spree (where I resisted shopping for Baby M), I attended a friend’s lingerie shower. Such a blast. It was nice to have a girl’s afternoon to snack and talk and laugh… A lot!

This morning, Mike and I took Rigby to brunch in Hyde Park Village and strolled around the Walk the Chalk chalk art event. The artistic talent some people have is absolutely unbelievable. We then let Rigby run some more energy off at Picnic Island. He even took a small dip in the water. We all came back to the house, and Mike and I spent about an hour or so at the pool and got the baby belly a little sun : ) Today was an absolutely gorgeous day. We finished the day with a delicious dinner and are now relaxing on the couch together. A weekend like this will make going back to work this week very difficult.

So we didn’t do anything for Baby M. My mom is currently working very hard on the nursery bedding, and I am waiting on that until and the installment of our new windows (March 28!) to put the final touches on the nursery. Then the nursery will be photographed for all to see, and Baby M’s name will be revealed for those who don’t already know it (which I’m pretty sure is everyone at this point, so I don’t know why I bother).

32 Weeks!

I feel: Zombie-like.

Happy or Moody: Both. Moodiness is getting quicker to trigger, some of which can be attributed to my tiredness.

Showing: Obviously.

Maternity Clothes: My wardrobe consists of Old Navy tanks, cardigans, slub v-necks I found at Target, maxi skirts and maxi dresses, as well as a few maternity-specific shirts. I am down to one pair of regular jeans that still button, and they are starting to get uncomfortable. The hair tie trick does not work, and I just find myself pulling my pants up all day. So I will be on the hunt for maternity bottoms/shorts this weekend. Such a bummer with only 2 months left!

Exercise: Dog walks.

Miss Anything: Not particularly.

Anything make you sick/queasy: Nope

Movement: Tons – all day long! She’s big enough now that I can tell the difference between her kicks, punches, stretches and rolls.

Excited for: the weekend 🙂 Not a ton of craziness planned, but hopefully some time with Mike. And, of course, it’s always nice to use one day during the weekend to do absolutely nothing… Haven’t had one of those in awhile.

Favorite Moment of the Week: Our 4-D ultrasound was last Wednesday and was very successful! Baby M kept her hands away from her face and we even got to see her open and close her sweet little mouth. We also got to see some of her pretty  hair… Hopefully it’s still there when she’s born! I haven’t decided if I want to share any of the photos yet, but she is the cutest little peanut (of course I’m biased) and has the sweetest baby lips. Can’t wait to meet her!

 

For those of you who caught my mistake of revealing the baby name last week before I was able to change it (Thanks Dad for texting me to tell me … It’s just too bad I had fallen asleep on the couch and didn’t get the text ’til an hour later), thank you for humoring me and acting like you don’t know. Although I wanted to hold out for a little longer, it will most likely be revealed with the completion of the nursery in a few weeks 🙂 So that’s something to look forward to!

31 Weeks

I feel: BUSY!

Happy or Moody: Irritable somedays

Showing: Obviously.

Maternity Clothes: The jeans in this week’s picture are a pair that I have been trying to rock the rubber band (or in this case, belly band) trick with, but I have officially given up. I am writing this blog post in my underwear from the kitchen table because that’s how frustrated I got with these pair of jeans. I have vowed to invest in a pair of maternity jeans and shorts for the remainder of my pregnancy. Jeans – 1, Natalie – 0

Exercise: Dog walks.

Miss Anything: You know, I’ve been craving an amusement park ever since I got pregnant. Of course, I can’t ride rollercoasters.

Anything make you sick/queasy: Nope

Movement: Tons – all day long! She’s big enough now that I can tell the difference between her kicks, punches, stretches and rolls.

Excited for: Another attempt at the 4-D sonogram TOMORROW. Hopefully all of her recent activity is a good sign, and she’ll be more active for us tomorrow.

Favorite Moment of the Week: What could also be counted as my least favorite moment of the week was my friend Laura (aka Chicken’s) goodbye party on Saturday night before she moved on to her next big adventure in Alabama. Luckily, she will be back for the shower in April and will hopefully visit lots afterwards as well. Unfortunately I didn’t get a picture with Chicken (I’m terrible), but I did score a picture with the other mama-to-be at the party, Sarah Hanson. Sarah and I became friends working together for a few years at Apple. She is also expecting a little princess Ellie Jane, due 3 weeks after Baby M. So exciting!

Mike and I have been discussing selling my car for a few months now. Back in October, he traded in his Volt for a 2013 Chevy Equinox – the new family car. Actually, I was told it was was my “gift for carrying his child” (silly, but so cute). He’s been driving it since then, but last week we took a closer look at selling my car for something else. We knew Baby M’s arrival would be here before we knew it, and with everything coming up – family visits, the shower, friends’ wedding, etc. – this past weekend seemed like a great time to get started. Little did we know that after posting my car on Craigslist on Saturday, it would be sold in less than 5 hours. This put us in a frenzy to find a car on Sunday, before the work week started. Luckily, after a day of hunting, Mike found a Chrysler 300 with his name on it, and I am now comfortable in my mommy-mobile. Sometimes, looking back at all these big decisions we’re making financially and otherwise, it’s absolutely crazy and wild that life is moving so quickly. But it all feels so natural and comfortable.

I can tell you right now, 1 year ago today I would’ve never thought I’d be here. I didn’t think I’d be seriously dating someone I’m head over heels in love with, let alone engaged, living together and having a child together. But I am, I do and we are. And it’s the best thing ever.