38 weeks!

On August 24th I was lucky enough to have a baby shower! It was absolutely incredible and I am so thankful for my Aunt Julie for hosting it at her house and putting it all together. I was honestly so worried that nobody was going to show up! But we had a great turn out and I got to catch up with some amazing women that have touched my life. I really want to publicly thank those who have shown their support through all of this. At the beginning of this pregnancy I was so worried that we weren't going to be able to provide for this child. I've come to realize that there are so many loved ones on our side to help us through this and for that I am so grateful. Thank you so much for your prayers, gifts and love. Our little growing family can't thank you enough.

How far along? 38 weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain: I'm gaining right on track.

Sleep: Is a distant memory. I usually get a bit of sleep after dropping David off at work in the mornings.

Best moment this week: The baby shower! I feel so much more prepared.

Miss Anything? Sleep, mostly.

Movement: LOTS of rolling.

Food cravings: Ice, chocolate, nachos.

Anything making you queasy or sick: A little bit of nausea but I'm sure that's just the 3rd trimester talking.

Labor Signs: Lots of Braxton hicks, lower back pain, cramping, incredible pressure in my pelvis.

Symptoms:  Sciatic nerve pain (ow!), lower back pain, cramping, contractions, sore hips, swollen feet, forgetful & clumsy.

Belly Button in or out? I'm amazed that it's still in.

Wedding rings on or off? I took it off in fear of my fingers swelling up too much. I replaced it with a ring that I got in Disneyworld.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, but it's all becoming so real! I'm to the point where I want baby here but I'm also so worried that I don't have everything done. We are still waiting to hear back on the insurance so please pray that it'll get approved on time!

Looking forward to: Going to Target tomorrow and spending the gift cards :)

34 weeks

Sorry for the lack of updates! On July 6, I woke up and realized that I hadn't felt baby move in about 18 hours, which is very unusual considering this child moves a ton. I was also paranoid because our one year mark from our miscarriage was that week, so we headed up to LDS Hospital to get checked out. As soon as they put the wand on my stomach to search for the heartbeat, little one bounced around. Thank goodness! However, they wanted to monitor me for a bit. They checked me for a UTI which came up borderline so they prescribed me something for it just in case I did have it. While I was being monitored, I was having painless contractions that were 40 seconds long every 3-4 minutes. The only pain that I felt was some waves of pain in my back. Now, at 30 weeks that wasn't supposed to happen! They ended up having to give me two shots of terbutaline (because the first one didn't help) which stop or slow contractions down.

They told me to come back in if I had more than 5 contractions an hour. So the next day, which happened to be my birthday, I ended up back in the hospital. This time the monitors only picked up on some irritation and I was sent back home. They did give me information on pre term labor, which didn't really ease my mind, but I am so thankful for modern medicine!

Other than our scare, this month has been great. We have been so blessed! It's amazing what can happen when you have faith. Everything seems to be working out the way it needs to and I am so excited for what's coming next. I still have a list of about a dozen things to do before baby gets here, but I know that it'll all be taken care of.

How far along? 34 weeks, 5 days

Total weight gain: I'm gaining right on track.

Sleep: Is a distant memory. With all my hip and back pain along with baby rolling around every which way, I hardly get a good night's rest.

Best moment this week: When baby kicks David when we're falling asleep. Also, this morning David put the ipad next to my stomach to show me a Bruno Mars video and the music woke baby up! Buttercup was dancing like crazy.

Miss Anything? Being able to sit or lay down without pain.

Movement: LOTS of rolling. I swear this child never sleeps!

Food cravings: Ice, oreos, sweets in general.

Anything making you queasy or sick: I've had nausea the last few days.

Labor Signs: Braxton hicks, tons of lower back pain, mild cramping.

Symptoms:  Sciatic nerve pain (ow!), lower back pain, cramping, contractions, sore hips, swollen feet, forgetful & clumsy, painful ribs, hard time breathing.

Belly Button in or out? I'm amazed that it's still in.

Wedding rings on or off? I took it off in fear of my fingers swelling up too much. I replaced it with a ring that I got in Disneyworld.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy, but it's all becoming so real!

Looking forward to: Having little one arrive.

10 weeks and counting...

10 more weeks and our little one will be here with us! Can you believe it?! Time has gone by so fast and yet it's going so slow! We are so eager for buttercup to just be here already. We still haven't announced to social media what gender we're having, but you're going to have to deal with it! ;)

Turns out that the hospital that my OB delivers at won't take my insurance, so yesterday I met with a nurse at my new OB's practice and in 3 weeks I'll meet with my new doctor. Every time that we get a measurement or listen to little one's heartbeat, baby immediately kicks the probe! Baby definitely gets that from daddy... David dislikes doctors. My uterus is still measuring big (which is silly because I don't look like I'm due in 2 months... guess it's just measuring higher than it's supposed to be) so on Monday I'll be getting another ultrasound to see what the deal is. I passed my Glucose test, but my old doctor apparently didn't send my new doctor that information, so they just want to double check to rule out Gestational Diabetes.

David and I will be staying in our current apartment for a while longer, since he just started his new job on Monday! If you didn't already know by all of my complaining, we only have a window unit and it was in our living room. A few nights ago I was in tears because it was just so dang hot, so we pulled the mattress into the living room and slept there. It was heavenly! Needless to say, we switched our bedroom to the living room and living room to the bedroom. With a baby on the way, we'll have more room now in our bedroom to fit everyone.

How far along? 30 weeks

Total weight gain: I'm gaining right on track.

Maternity clothes? Yes and they are oh so comfy. Not sure if I'll even want to go back to my normal clothes after delivery.

Sleep: Before moving bedrooms, hardly any. But I'm starting to get more even with the heat.

Best moment this week: Hearing baby's heartbeat again. It's such a beautiful sound.

Miss Anything? I miss being able to breathe.

Movement: Tons! This kid moves around so much, I'm almost afraid that I'll be chasing him/her down all the time when it gets here. I can feel hiccups down low and I can see limbs rolling around. Baby particularly loves hearing David's voice and kicks when he asks him/her to do so.

Food cravings: Corn chex, ice water, mozzerella sticks from Arby's.

Anything making you queasy or sick: I'm having a bit of acid reflux that isn't much fun.

Labor Signs: Braxton hicks here and there.

Symptoms:  Sciatic nerve pain (ow!), sore hips, swollen feet/fingers, forgetful, painful ribs, hard time breathing.

Belly Button in or out? In.

 

Wedding rings on or off? On but it's getting harder to wiggle off with these swollen fingers.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Eager and happy!

Looking forward to: Having little one arrive in 2 months.

Here I am at 29 weeks.

26 weeks & a road trip

For Memorial Weekend, David and I had the opportunity to drive down to Cedar City and meet up with parents, who then drove us to Ridgecrest, California. We had such a wonderful week away from Salt Lake! David took me around the city, which took about 20 minutes because it is fairly small, showed me some sentimental places and we got to spend time with some of his friends.

We spent a lot of time with the Jensen brothers and we played hours on end on a game called Dominion. David was so fixated on winning that he wouldn't stop playing it until he did so! It really is a fun game, we might have to get it. The Jensen's also played some laser tag with us in the neighborhood and took us shooting one morning. I must say, I have a pretty good shot! I surprised myself with how well I did.

We also spent time with Nathan and Aundrea Wonnacott and their newest edition, Luke. He is such a cutie! We went to Baskin Robbins for some ice cream and just caught up with them, which was really nice. I hadn't seen them since before David and I got married. Another couple we got to see was Branden and Tara Decker. It was my first time meeting them so it was a pleasure! They were really easy to get along with.

It really was neat seeing where David grew up and it was especially touching to see him light up as he shared stories about his childhood. Just being there with him was my favorite part of the trip. My least favorite part, however, was the driving and the air mattress every night. My feet are finally back to normal after them being swollen all week long from the driving and walking.

This week, baby's eyes are forming they will soon start to open. Eyelashes are now grown, too. Baby measures 14 inches long and weighs over 1.7 pound. Buttercup's getting the immune system ready for life on the outside by soaking up my antibodies. Baby is taking breaths, too. They're of amniotic fluid, not air, but it's still good practice.



How far along? 26 weeks, 6 months! I'll be in my third trimester on Sunday.

Total weight gain: I will just say that I am gaining steadily.

Maternity clothes? Yes! Soon I will have to start wearing bigger, stretchy shirts. Most of my normal shirts are finally starting to come up a little too high. I finally got my maternity uniform for work and it shows off my little bump. I had a few customers ask when I was due, so that made me feel good!

Sleep: Hardly any. My insomnia is killing me.

Best moment this week: Baby dancing around while listening to Michael Jackson. We have a wiggler!

Miss Anything? It's to the point where soon I won't be able to touch my toes... will soon need to have David paint my toenails.

Movement: Lots! Not so much the past week or so because baby doesn't have much room, but little one lets me know that it's there! David has been able to feel buttercup a handful of times, so that is really special.

Food cravings: Corn chex!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Long car rides apparently.

Labor Signs: Some braxton hicks every so often.

Symptoms:  Sciatic nerve pain (ow!), emotional, forgetful, painful ribs, hard time breathing.

Belly Button in or out? In, but it's slowly starting to pop out.

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Beyond happy! When I get emotional though, I completely lose it! I have completely bawled a few times.

Looking forward to: Getting a new apartment and starting on the nursery!

Mother's Day

I came across a blog the other day about Mother's Day and how we might unintentionally alienate women on such a beautiful day. I found it touching, true, and I related to it. My thoughts will be towards the end.

"A few years ago I sat across from a woman who told me she doesn’t go to church on Mother’s Day because it is too hurtful.  I’m not a mother, but I had never seen the day as hurtful. She had been married, had numerous miscarriages, divorced and was beyond child bearing years. It was like salt in mostly healed wounds to go to church on that day. This made me sad, but I understood.

"Fast forward several years to Mother’s Day.  A pastor asked all mothers to stand. On my immediate right, my mother stood and on my immediate left, a dear friend stood. I, a woman in her late 30s, sat. I don’t know how others saw me, but I felt dehumanized, gutted as a woman. Real women stood, empty shells sat. I do not normally feel this way. I do not like feeling this way. I want no woman to ever feel this way in church again.

"Last year a friend from the States happened to visit on Mother’s Day and again the pastor (a different one) asked all mothers to stand. As a mother, she stood and I whispered to her, “I can’t take it, I’m standing.” She knows I’m not a mother yet she understood my standing / lie.

"Here’s the thing, I believe we can honor mothers without alienating others. I want women to feel welcome, appreciated, seen, and needed here in our little neck of the body of Christ.

1. Do away with the standing. You mean well, but it’s just awkward. Does the woman who had a miscarriage stand? Does the mom whose children ran away stand? Does the single woman who is pregnant stand?

2.  Acknowledge the wide continuum of mothering.

• To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you

• To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you

• To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you

• To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you

• To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.

• To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you

• To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you

• To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you

• To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you

• To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience

• To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst

• To those who have aborted children – we remember them and you on this day

• To those who are single and long to be married and mothering your own children – we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it to be

• To those who step-parent – we walk with you on these complex paths

• To those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren -yet that dream is not to be, we grieve with you

• To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you

• To those who placed children up for adoption — we commend you for your selflessness and remember how you hold that child in your heart

• And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising –we anticipate with you

"This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.

 3. Commend mothering for the ways it reflects the Image of God by bringing forth new life, nurturing those on her path, and living with the tension of providing both freedom and a safety net."

(Taken from Amy from The Messy Middle)

First, I would like to express my love and appreciation to my Mother and all other Mother's who have touched my life. Thank you. Mom, you have taught me all I know and for that I am grateful. Your special touch in our home truly made it a wonderful experience. I know it wasn't always easy but you never gave up on us children and you always looked forward with faith. I only hope that I can take what I learned and act with the same faith that you have to better my little growing family. Unlike others who say "I can't believe I'm turning in my my Mom," I embrace it and hope that I do turn into a shadow of you. You are marvelous and I love you!

Second, to my friends who have experienced loss of any kind, who are unable to have children or are single, I love you. You are the strongest women I know. I have learned so much by your example and you ARE Mother's in a very special way. I admire your strength and your perseverance to keep going when times are tough. It's remarkable how much strength you have. You have touched my life and I want to thank you for that.

Third, for my little buttercup, my early loss and for any other children I may have... I love you. You have brought light into mine and David's life that otherwise wouldn't be there. I stress myself out every day knowing that I will be raising you and I don't want to let you down. You deserve the world. I promise that I will teach you everything I know, especially that of the Gospel and how wonderful your Father in Heaven and your brother, Jesus Christ, is. I promise that I will love you even when my patience is thin or when times get tough, just promise to be patient with me too. I'm still learning.

Happy Mother's Day.

22 weeks!

Am I really just over half of the way done with this pregnancy? Where has the time gone?! I feel so unprepared! This update will be pretty short this week. Not a lot has been happening.

First, I just want to publicly express my love and appreciation to my Heavenly Father for always answering prayers. David and I, being newly married, have already been through some struggles here and there, and we know that he is always there for us to help out. This past week or so David and I went to the Temple and when we came out, all of the stress we had been feeling had been lifted. We knew that everything would work out and we would be okay. Our prayers were answered soon after that. There have been multiple times where this has happened and I am in awe of it every time. I am so grateful!

As far as pregnancy goes, it's going! My favorite part about being pregnant is being able to feel little one move around and kick me from the inside. One of my favorite things to do these days is pull my shirt up a little and watch buttercup move and punch. Both David and I haven't been able to feel the baby from the outside yet, but I'm sure that will change here soon. Baby is definitely going through a growth spurt! Last night I had the most painful round ligament pains on my left side and it only hurt when I stood and walked. It had me doubled over in tears, it was that bad. But, I'm doing much better today! I took a picture of my growing "bump" at 21 weeks and 4 days. There isn't much to see, really. I'm slowly starting to show, but it looks like I've just been snacking a little too much ;)

Baby is about 11 inches long and weighs in at about 1 pound. Eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed, and the fingernails cover the fingertips. Sounds from a conversation are loud enough to be heard in the uterus. Buttercup starts having a regular sleeping and waking rhythm. My movements can wake the baby up.

 How far along? 22 weeks 1 day, 5 months

Total weight gain:  Probably a few pounds. I have a doctor's appointment next week, so we will see!

Maternity clothes? Just maternity pants. I still fit in all of my regular shirts. I don't have much of a bump, just bloat.

Stretch marks? No new ones that I can recall.

Sleep: LOTS of insomnia during the night, but I feel like a zombie in the mornings.

Best moment this week: Feeling and seeing the kicks!

Miss Anything? Being able to sit without my lower back hurting.

Movement: Lots of it! Especially if I sleep somewhat on my stomach, baby let's me know that it needs more room. I can also tell what time baby moves... little one is usually awake around 11, 1, 7 and 10:45.

Food cravings: Ice water and hot dogs.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Doing the dishes makes me queasy, that's about it.

Gender prediction: ;)

Labor Signs: Some braxton hicks every so often.

Symptoms:  Sciatic nerve pain (ow!), round ligament pains this week, emotional, forgetful, tender stomach.

Belly Button in or out? In, but it's slowly starting to pop out. I can see my incision scar on my belly button from my surgeries starting to move outward.

 

Wedding rings on or off? On, but my hands and feet are usually a little swollen in the morning and night.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Beyond happy! I do get my bouts of emotions though.

Looking forward to: Every single day from here on out!

 

(nearly) 20 weeks!

20 weeks tomorrow! I can't believe I'm halfway through this pregnancy already. Where has the time gone?! I've kind of been gliding through this pregnancy and it's finally starting to set in that there is actually a child in there and soon, it'll be here with us. I couldn't help but ask the baby while resting the other day if it's excited to come to earth. A few seconds later, a round of kicking and squirming ensued. Someone is excited to come live with us!

We were supposed to have our anatomy scan on the 12th, but the hospital cancelled on us not even 24 hours before our appointment. The financial office was supposed to contact me but they didn't, so there was a mix up and they said I would have to pay out of pocket. So, we rescheduled it for the 25th. We had our OB appointment on the 18th and she had a hard time tracking down baby's heartbeat, because we have a wiggler! She thought it was weird that the hospital made that mistake, so she sent us to our anatomy scan immediately following our appointment with her, which was a surprise. We were so excited! The scan went amazing well. All of the measurements were exactly on point. The tech had a hard time taking all the shots she needed because little one wouldn't stop moving! When looking for the gender, baby finally stopped moving around so much, but he/she kept burrying itself deeper into my stomach. Needless to say, ultrasound tech had to go back and check a few times and was only slightly confident in her answer. So, we know what we're having! ;) We are beyond thrilled and excited to meet our baby.

Baby is growing up a storm this week, weighing in about 10.5 ounces and measuring about 10 inches from head to heel! Baby's also still practicing swallowing skills and swallowing up a few ounces of amniotic fluid each day. Baby is also producing meconium! We should get to see that in the first diaper! Oh joy! And little one's got working tastebuds!

And baby's become the wiggliest little thing ever! I think buttercup's having a party in there day and night! The pokes, kicks, and somersaults I used to feel more like a flutter or bubbles popping but now literally feel like I've got someone in my belly poking and kicking me! I love every single second of it!

How far along? 19 weeks (6 days), 4.5 months or so

Total weight gain:  1 or 2 pounds still.

Maternity clothes? Loving my maternity jeans! Hoping to purchase a cute maternity swimsuit soon.

Stretch marks? No new ones that I can recall.

Sleep: LOTS of insomnia.

Best moment this week: Having our anatomy scan and being able to see buttercup moving around in there. Also hearing the heartbeat. Brings me so much joy!

Miss Anything? Bending over is starting to become a bit hard to do.

Movement: Lots of it! Baby kicked me so hard the other day and I wasn't expecting it, so I jumped! Baby has also been kicking my cervix and kidneys like there's no tomorrow.

Food cravings: Ice water (pretty sure it's taking all my iron) and hot cheetos.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Doing the dishes makes me queasy, that's about it.

Gender prediction: ;)

Labor Signs: Some braxton hicks here and there.

Symptoms:  Sciatic nerve pain (ow!), emotional, forgetful, tender stomach, and round ligament pains.

Belly Button in or out? In.

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Beyond happy! I do get my bouts of emotions though.

Looking forward to: Every single day from here on out!