30 weeks

Wow, ten weeks left (give or take)! Eeeeekkkk!

This morning I had my usual check up appointment which is every two weeks. I'm still gaining weight little by little-as recommend, belly is measuring great, baby's heartbeat was at 159 beats per minute, my symptoms are still very minimal, etc! One thing that was interesting though is they changed my due date back to February 6th. Here's the story for the due date...
At my first couple appointments (at my first doctors office in Alaska) they gave me the due date February 5th, then they changed it to the 12th. Well when I moved to Idaho and got my doctor here they questioned why my previous Dr had changed the date. I wasn't sure myself because they kept saying I/baby was measuring where we should be (going off of the 5th).  So the office here said oh whatever we will just go with the last date they gave you (the12th). But then at my last couple appointments they have said February 6th. So...it's been a little confusing (and kind of weird), but I'm not too concerned with the exact date because who knows when I will actually deliver. And I won't argue with them going off of a earlier date. It just makes it all the sooner we will be holding our bundle of joy (because they won't let me go much past the 6th for delivery)!

A couple weeks ago I had to do the lovely 1 hour glucose test which screens for gestational diabetes and anemia. Well, I failed the gestational diabetes portion and needed to come back to do the 3 hour one. I felt better than I thought I would thank goodness (you can't have anything except water after midnight before the test, and I didn't eat anything after dinner really, and didn't get food in my system till lunch time the following day-that is a record for me, ha). Then the following day I was told I passed! Whew.

Baby girl is still staying active! Plus, she has gotten the hiccups a couple times and it's an interesting feeling, but I love it-any movement for that matter! Steven and I have started reading a book out loud with each other and when he reads he sits close to my belly so she can get more familiar with his voice. I have read that can help get the baby more familiar with your partner's voice; so I figured it doesn't hurt to do it!

Yesterday we started our childbirth prep classes! All together we are doing three...which may seem a little excessive, but one doesn't cover all the things I would like to go over. Plus, the teacher/leader of the class last night said the three I signed up for are the best ones to do. It makes for a busy December, but it will be great information to have! Plus, Steven is being great support, going to all of them with me!

Thanksgiving Service

During church today they did things a little differently, opening the floor to everyone, giving us the opportunity to share something we have been/are grateful for in honor of Thanksgiving.
It was so touching to hear people share little bits of their personal stories. God can use anything and anyone to make such a difference in our lives. It's so important to look at situations through the eyes of a grateful heart, even when it can be hard at times.

While the service was going on I wanted to share some things I am grateful for...but I was getting choked up just thinking about the things I would say and I didn't want to be a ball of a mess in front of everyone. Well, my husband Steven raised his hand and stood up for the microphone. What he had to say was exactly what was on my heart. He shared that for the last two years it had been our desire to move to Idaho, but due to wanting to save more, find a decent job in the location we wanted to move, etc it didn't happen right away. And then when we were ready to move, things weren't falling into place and a few months passed. It was hard to not get discouraged, but we kept praying for God's will-not ours to show. Then after those few trying months things started falling into place one right after the other and fast! We got pregnant, Steven found a full-time job where we wanted to move to, the moving process went amazing, we found a house right after we moved, etc. Things were going so freakishly well we thought it was too good to be true. But, we were just being blessed with God's plan. We have some great friends here, and it has been great making those stronger. Plus, we were able to get plugged into a life group through our church right away that has been wonderful. The couples we are getting to know have been encouraging and here for us. (I may be missing somethings he said, but that was the gist.)

I loved that Steven shared this and pretty much as soon as he started saying these things I started crying. When he looked at me he was surprised to see the tears streaming down my face (but then in a way he totally wasn't surprised, because hello, it's me!! I did have a smile on my face, too) and then for the first time since we have been together I saw him get a bit choked up himself (which then made me more emotional). We are just so grateful for the ways life has played out, even though there were hard times as well. Those hard times taught us to rely more on God. We always know His plan is great - we just need to be patient and have faith.

maternity photos

We were blessed by Kris Ryan of Heart & Soul Images for our maternity photos!
It was a crisp fall morning, in a beautiful area and we were able to capture many great photos to look back on. This is such a joyous time and we will love having pictures to remember when this baby was in my belly. We love love them and thank you thank you Kris for helping us remember these moments-can't say it enough!!
I wanted to share some with you (it was hard to not put all of them on here)! Enjoy!

Steven tried to show off his belly, too, hahaha! Nice try babe!

27 weeks

Baby girl seems to be doing well in my belly! Her kicking/punching has gotten a little stronger which I am not complaining about (expect when I have to go to the bathroom and she hits the bladder-yikes!). She should be about 15 inches and a little over 2 pounds...so now she's adding to the weight I'm gaining, hehe. Most of her growth and progression is in her brain, which is beginning to send signals to the rest of her body. Plus, she is now opening and closing her eyes. I love reading the new developments each week! 

This last week or so I've been getting tired again and therefore getting a nap in pretty much everyday. And I've been sleeping in a little longer in the mornings. Some nights I can stay up till 12am and other nights I am about to pass out around 7pm. Plus, sometimes it takes me longer to get comfortable. Before, I could lay down and be conked out within minutes which my husband was pretty impressed by, but now I can hear him sound asleep way before me fairly often.  

The Monday before last we had our maternity photos! We got to see some of the shots off of the camera, and they look great! We should get them this week and I'll be sharing them with you! 

Steven finished painting the nursery, has put the new baseboard on (just needs to be caulked) and blinds up! Almost complete!!! Bit by bit we are getting the bigger items for the nursery as well! The other day when the crib arrived I asked Steven if he saw the box of it, and he replied, "Yes! Want to put it together?!" (Mind you, this was right when he got home around 8:30pm, after working his 12 hour shift.) I of course answered, "Sure! If you're up for it!" I thought it was so sweet and cute. This makes me think about all the other things I will hear him say and see him do before, and especially after, this girl is born. 

Two of my girlfriends sent me links (one to a song and one to an article) about parenthood. I've read and heard a lot things, but these two things were especially good this week. (The song is: 'I Get to Be The One' by JJ Heller and the article is: 6 Mommy Secrets Every New Mother Should Know by Ashlee Gadd.) There are so many times when I have mixed emotions about taking on the responsibility of raising a kid...and hopefully another down the road.  Since I can remember I have wanted to be a mom and looked forward to the day I would have one with my spouse. Steven and I have been married a little over 6 years and even though it's been wonderful just the two of us, we have wanted to expand our little family. But, I have worries that I will fail at being a mother. I know it will be hard. There will be wonderful days and challenging days. I know that it is the hardest "job" in the world, but also the most rewarding. I know I'm not the only one that feels these insecurities and also the excitement of raising a kid. And even though I have worries I am so thrilled to see love and God and humanity through new eyes that will change us, mold us and make us more aware of how small we are and how big God is (line from the article, it said what I felt so well). It will be good, it will be great and it will be grand!

Some photos from the past couple weeks...

(Bottom left: Halloween-Steven wore scrubs while I wore an x-ray shirt, like he took our photo, Bottom right: at end of 26th week, Bottom middle: bought some 0-3 month clothes for baby girl)

                           

25 weeks

This week I am going to do a little Q&A that lots of people tend to do for their pregnancy updates and I wanted to mix it up just a little today by doing one...

How far along are you?: 25 weeks and 1 day

Baby is: estimated to be about 9 inches and 1.5 lbs

Obsessing over: getting this little girls room together! Some of it is painted and the decor pieces are coming along!

Favorite moment this week: last week I had my routine appointment and the Dr. said I am the model pregnant lady! My weight gain is going as it should, belly is measuring good (and belly button isn't an outie just yet-getting quite close though), blood pressure is good, I still have ankles-haha, symptoms are very minimal, etc. etc. And this was such a wonderful thing to be told because of some thoughts I'd been struggling with (i.e. see the 'Working on' down below)

Feeling: lots of movement! She mostly moves when I am just sitting or laying down. Steven got to feel her for the first time recently and we were both so happy to share in that! 

Working on: not letting the enemy lower my self worth. I have been struggling with body image off and on...feeling round and awkward. Weight is being distributed to lots of places other than just my belly. And even though I know it's okay, I just felt...ugh. I know I am creating a human being, so I am constantly telling myself I'm very grateful for this gift not everyone gets. AND my body is doing amazing things...some things beyond my control-obviously. The enemy like to makes it's way into my thoughts though and try to smash my self esteem. I am being reassured by many around me that I am beautiful and most importantly I know I am. 

Thinking about: all the things we would like to get done/have before the baby comes (only about 3 more months-ahhh!). We are constantly crossing off and adding to our 'To-do/To-get' lists 

Anticipating: our maternity photos next week! I am pretty much ready for a photo any time, ha, but Steven on the other hand could pass on any photo opportunity. Thankfully he is being a wonderful husband and will take part in this with me (thank you Steven!!).

Currently craving: Chinese and Mexican food. There is a fabulous Chinese restaurant back in Alaska called Pagoda we miss a ton and it will be hard to find anything that compares, but I am on the hunt for anything close!

Wishing: that I could just snap my fingers and everything on our house we want to put up/change would be done! 

What are you most looking forward to?: so much! Mostly like I said already, our maternity photos and getting more things done on our house! 

23 weeks

                 During 22 weeks                                                      23 weeks

Hello to the 6th month! (Tuesdays are my turnaround days, but I can't seem to always post the new update then, but that's just an FYI for anyone that's wondering, ha.) About 17 weeks left to go, give or take of course. My due date is February 12th and I am going to try and do everything in my power to try and not to have her on Valentine's Day-if the 12th surpasses and she still hasn't come. But I know whatever is supposed to happen will happen. Ugh, control issues I have sometimes....

Baby girl is about the size of a papaya; 8 inches and 1.2 pounds. I forgot to mention in my 21 week post, baby was weighing 13 ounces for sure at my last scan! That was my last ultrasound, too, unless something seems wrong, or we decide to pay for a 3D ultrasound later on. I had been spoiled, because I have had an ultrasound at every appointment and not everyone gets that. So even though I have been able to see baby girl more than some get to see their baby, I am sad we probably won't get to see her anymore till birth. However, they will check fetal heartbeat and that is always a joy to hear!

I have officially felt baby move/kick/punch!!!!!! It is such a wonderful/amazing feeling! I've felt her several times throughout the day and mostly right when I am settling into bed for the night! Steven hasn't been able to feel her yet, but hopefully soon. According to my reading baby recently started swallowing the amniotic fluid, so I may start to feel her hiccup, too-I am curious how that will feel!

This week I have been getting things together for her room! The colors I have decided on are black and white with accents of gold, blush pink, mint and gray. Theme is kind of eclectic Paris. I have loved Paris since I was in high school. Over the years I have accumulated different decor pieces and wanted to incorporate that in a little girls room, now I get to! This week I also bought some maternity jeans and they are nice! My growing belly isn't allowing my pre-pregnancy jeans to fit comfortably anymore and more of my tops are being pushed to their limits, so I may have bought some more cute flowy ones. Feeling attractive will all these growing parts is important!

Time seems to be going fast-I can't believe it is mid October already. Fall is however my favorite season (I'm enjoying Pumpkin lattes as much as I can, too) and Christmas is right around the corner-my favorite holiday! Things are going right along and we are great!

San Diego adventures

A little over a week ago I met up with my husband Steven's immediate family in San Diego. It was so nice to see them again and spend a few days having some quality time together. (Steven stayed back home to work and we all missed him!)

While I was there it was kind of non-stop from morning till night, but thankfully my pregnant self was able to keep up and had fun! For the first full day we were there we went to Seaworld! I have never been so it was cool to see some huge sea life that are also quite talented...the tricks they learn are amazing! We watched a dolphin and whale show that was super impressive. My nephew got to go on some water rides he truly had a blast on. On the first ride they all got wet and when they were getting ready to go on another wet ride, Jaxon (our nephew) started taking off his clothes, because he didn't want them to get wet again we guessed, haha. It was so funny and cute, but they had him keep his clothes on in the end-didn't think they would let him go in just his underwear you know ; ). The kids, and big kids...yes us adults, had a great time throughout the day and the little ones got their naps in their strollers, too...we wished there were adult sized strollers we could take a nap in and have someone push us around. Wouldn't that be awesome?!

Then the second day was The San Diego Zoo! I have also never been to this zoo, and so it was another day being a big kid. I wasn't the only one though, everyone loved seeing the amazing animals. Our niece Finley, who just turned one a month ago, loved seeing some of the animals. She would point and make an 'O' with her mouth, because she was so amazed at these things. It was adorable. One thing we also got to see was a cheetah and dog that were best friends...yep, a dog (can't remember the kind-but a big one) and a cheetah got rescued around the same time and have been inseparable. I could go on, but I'll keep it semi-short and share some photos from the trip below!

At both these places though, Seaworld and the zoo, it's amazing how many animals they have been able to rescue and help.