Family/Maternity photos

When I was almost 35 weeks pregnant we had a close friend do our family/maternity photos. He's not a professional, but he has done a great job for us with photos in the past. Thank you Andrew for these moments captured during this time in our lives - we'll forever be grateful to look back at these!! Several of the photos are just candid shots too and I love them!

Every year these wild flowers grow up in the foothills where we live and I so badly wanted our photos done with them along the trails. Well with all the snow, rain and hit and miss days of good weather, plus work schedules, the photos were done later than I had thought we'd get them done. BUT thankfully everything worked out perfectly on this day and they turned out great! Ellie loved playing with the flowers and running on the trails. Funny thing, when we scouted out a few spots for the photos previously, Ellie was wearing her good outdoor walking/hiking shoes and she walked so slow or wanted to be held. And then of course when we were out to get photos done, this girl wanted to explore and run around like a kid on a sugar high in her sandals! She keeps us on our toes and makes us smile for sure. Love her and my husband and this baby girl in my tummy.

40 weeks

How far along?: 40 weeks and 1 day. Yep, still pregnant people. And don't let that smile fool you. I wish I was holding my baby girl, not my belly!

Movement: Baby girl moves around so much in the early afternoon and evening hours. My belly looks so crazy during those times, with all the moving she does-so distorted. It's like she's trying to work her way out of my belly...but she seems to be quite comfortable in there at the same time...since she hasn't come out yet!!!!!

Total weight gain/loss: Last week I was at 24 pounds and this week I bumped back down to 23 pounds gained total!

Maternity clothes: I should have taken this one off weeks ago, because, hello, this belly is huge and of course my regular clothes and maternity clothes are being pushed to their max. It has been so nice to incorpurate the pieces I get from Le Tote with my wardrobe though; giving me more options and such!

Currently craving: Ice cream, pizza, shrimp tacos and Mexican food in general. I had such a HUGE craving for Mexican food the other night, but I was home alone with Ellie asleep, it was 9pm. Couldn't satisfy that craving. I ended up eating carrots and applesauce, haha! Not even close to Mexican, but I felt good about those choices at that hour of the night at least ; )

Anything make you sick or queasy?: Rinsing out containers that contained food.

Stretch marks: There have been a few more faint ones to appear these last couple weeks. Overall though, they aren't bad.

Sleep: I have been waking up more in the night and some nights I definitely do have insomnia. Up for long periods of time, sometimes 2-3 times for an hour +. It has also been much harder to stay comfortable. Leg cramps get me every so often, too.

Feeling: SOOOOO ready for Paige to come! Ellie came right on the first and earliest due date I was given, so that makes me half expect Paige to come any moment now and not super late. I'm getting more impatient as the day(s) goes on.
Symptoms wise: I have been having a ton of cramping, pretty much lasting off and on all day. I have a few Braxton hicks contractions most days. On May 26th I had one for real contraction. And early this morning (June 2nd) I thought my water may have broke, but I wasn't sure. So I called my doctors office as soon as they opened, explained to nurse what happened and she instructed me to go to labor and delivery at hospital so they could test and determine for sure if it had or not. Unfortunately it was a false alarm and I'm back home. It was kind of crazy driving away from the house and thinking that we could be returning with a baby.

Working on/thinking about: Yesterday, at my 40 week appointment, my doctor offered to sweep my membranes, which can help encourage labor along. I agreed to that! And I read that it increases the likelihood that labor will start within 48 hours. It has a higher chance of working too if my cervix is already softening and preparing for labour, and my doctor said I'm right there. So, I really do want labor to start any minute!!!!! My doctor also said she doesn't want me to go past 41 weeks and wanted to set up an appointment for induction June 8th, just in case she doesn't come sooner. The induction is scheduled, however I want to avoid that and am doing what I can to help labor along on it's own.

Favorite moment from this week: At my 40 week appointment yesterday, doctor said I was 3cm and 75% effaced.  I was really glad I'd had some progress at least! Because, at my 39 week appointment I was 2-3cm and still only 50% effaced.

38 weeks

How far along?: 38 weeks

Movement: She feels sooo big in my tummy and it does seem like she's maxing out the space in there-which she basically is! ha. She's still not moving around a ton, but just enough to calm any uneasiness I may get. I love rubbing my belly though and knowing where she is - she presses her bum/back into my belly often!

Total weight gain/loss: Total weight gained is 23 pounds. Very glad I won't be exceeding the recommended weight this time around or even pushing the numbers.

Maternity clothes: For an early Mother's Day gift my husband got me a subscription to Le Tote Maternity! I have totally been enjoying getting a new box of clothes every week to wear, without having to actually buy more maternity pieces! Plus, you don't have to wash them - that's a plus...even though I don't mind that chore, just any less chores I need to do is nice right now as we prepare for baby girl's arrival!

Currently craving: Seafood, soda/any carbonated drinks, frozen yogurt, ice cream and strawberries

Anything make you sick or queasy?: Not really

Stretch marks: No new ones. And I don't know (without looking back at all my past bump updates), if I've mentioned, that on top of drinking lots of water, putting lotion/coconut oil on my belly at least twice a day, I exfoliate once a week as well...that can help with replenishing your skin and help in general.

Sleep: Usually during the first few hours of the night I get up several times to use the restroom and I can usually fall back asleep fairly fast. Then I get some good stretches of sleep the rest of the night, even though I need to use restroom more!

Feeling: Anxious for Paige's arrival. I've been having some progress; at 35 week appointment I was 1 cm, at 37 week appointment I was 2 cm and 50% effaced, but was still the same at my (semi-early) 38 week appointment . At the 37 week one my doctor told me to get my hospital bags ready. Mine and Paige's are done, minus some snacks I need get and those few misc items to throw in the last minute out the door. Steven's is pretty easy, so we're not too worried about his just yet.
Symptom wise: still get heartburn fairly often, menstrual like cramps, some Braxton hicks contractions and my ankles have shown some swelling by the end of the day. All in all I think I'm doing pretty good for being at the final stretch!

Working on/Thinking about: Getting the house clean! I usually try to keep the house clean and in order anyways, but "deep" cleaning is not my favorite. But if/when it's done I feel so much better, relaxed and ready...and for guests. My mom is coming at the end of May to help for a few weeks and then Steven's family, but I want to be ready for anything!

Favorite moment from this week: Getting everything in it's place and on the walls in Paige's room! Granted the doors on her closet doors/closet trim need fresh paint, the handles need to be put back on and some misc things need to be taken out of her closet, but that is ok! I love having it 99% ready; it's like we're ready to put a baby in there ; ). I loved getting all the clothes in the closet and drawers, too. I forget how tiny some newborn pieces are!

Baby girl has a name & a shower

Ever since Steven and I have talked about girl names, it has been super hard to agree on one. We started talking about baby names way before even trying to have our first kid. Then, when it became real getting pregnant with Ellie and finding out it was a girl, oh man it was tricky settling on a first name. The "guidelines" we agreed on were it needed to be short...like there couldn't really be a nickname for it, couldn't be too popular and it needed to be a clear girl name. It was around a couple months before Ellie was born that we officially decided on her name. Yay!

Now here we were again, finding out we were pregnant for the second time and it was another girl!! As elated as we were about this news, I personally, was dreading the process of picking another girl name. This time there were even more "guidelines," granted mostly set up by me: the name couldn't rhyme with 'Ellie' or start with the letter 'E'. For the middle name I wanted it to have some sort of meaning for us at least also. 

Well, after months of talking, looking and making up names, we decided on Paige Lily! We think Steven came up with Paige and then I came up with Lily. The middle name doesn't have any meaning for Steven, he just likes it. But lilies are mentioned in the Bible, I love water lilies, I love flowers in general and how each year there are wild ones and garden ones that sprout up and show off their beauty; something that starts so small, turns into such a beautiful thing. And, after some time, my mom remembered that one of my great grandmothers was named Lillian. It was kind of forgotten because she went by her middle name, Lucille. I'm so very glad it was remembered because I had wanted to carry on a family name in some way.

Then, last week, Paige and I were thrown a beautiful shower! Flowers were incorporated, a detail I absolutely loved and appreciated even more so, due to Paige's middle name. My girlfriends, Shaina and Amanda, put together some special and thoughtful details. One thing they did, instead of the typical baby shower game(s), was have everyone, including me (and also Steven) fill in the blank prayers for Paige...i.e. 'I pray you love......' It was so sweet hearing and reading everyones responses to those. She is loved and we are so blessed by everyone near and far who have been on this journey with us. Thank you ladies for making this mama and baby girl feel special! 

yummy & beautiful naked cake made by a couple friends

^^ yummy & beautiful sugar cookies with royal icing made by my friend Shaina

Good ol' iPhone self timer photos! 

Had to get a picture of everyone who was there to celebrate though!

^^ the two wonderful friends, Shaina and Amanda, who put on the shower

36 weeks

How far along?: 36 weeks

Movement: This one is the same as the last update...it isn't as often, but when it does happen, she is strong.

Total weight gain/loss: I have still only gained 18/19 pounds! I do however feel like I look bigger...but whatever the scale says!

Maternity clothes: Wearing basically all maternity clothes, with the exception of a few non-maternity shirts. I did end up getting those non-maternity elastic waist/drawstring shorts from Old Navy and they are great! They will continue to be great with my ever changing midsection these next several months!

Currently craving: Ice cream, cheese and crackers, smoothies from Tree City Juice & Smoothie Cafe and fruit.

Anything make you sick or queasy?: Waiting too long to eat.

Stretch marks: I think I have a few new ones around my belly button area, but all in all the ones I have are very faint.

Sleep: Is getting better. It was absolutely terrible last week. I am slowly getting over a cold and on top of getting up for the bathroom, it was taking forever to fall asleep when the sickness was at it's worst. I'd also wake up a ton to cough. And coughing hard like I was is quite dangerous at this point in pregnancy if you know what I mean, yikes!

Feeling: Like I said in last paragraph, getting over a cold. Being this big and at this point of pregnancy for me is already a little hard-with a toddler, so getting sick really wore me down. I was constantly tired and I didn't want to talk at all - throat burned constantly and I sounded really horse. Still sound and feel a little sick, but am slowly getting more and more sleep each night which helps. Other than sickness I am getting more and more anxious to meet our girl! It still amazes me we are having another kid, let alone another daughter! Very surreal still for Steven and I.
OH, and at my doctor appointment last week I was checked for any progress...I was dilated 1cm, which I know isn't anything, but was quite exciting to hear!

Working on/Thinking about: Nursery! More and more of baby girls room is getting done! With being sick, it really set me back on being pro active on getting things done in general. Then I wonder how Ellie is going to respond to having a sibling. I know there's going to be lots of ups and downs and won't be a breeze. And, I wonder how it's all going to look, as a family of four.

Favorite moment from this week: I have 2. First, I was thrown a very beautiful shower by two of my girlfriends last week (blog post on this soon!). And second, I went to the doctor early this week for my cold...not the great part. However, the doctor asked if I wanted to take a listen to the babies heartbeat...well of course! It sounded good and strong and then she felt for the babies position...at my last appointment she was head down, but this time she couldn't tell for sure. So, she said let's try taking a look with the ultrasound machine. I was able to get seen in the actual ultrasound room, with their nice machine and actual ultrasound technician. Seeing baby girl on the big screen made me get choked up. She was head down, but was also being really cooperative, letting us see a great profile and even front on shot of her face. It's not as freaky looking to me at this point! It made me even more anxious to see her in person!

April photo favorites

 

^^ She loves tank tops and mine are even more fun, because they are dresses to her ; )

^^ I was trying on hats and Ellie decided she wanted to try on a hat as well. 

She grabbed the biggest one there was of course, hahaha

^^ Just decided to lay on the floor and watch a movie like this for a minute

^^ Daddy painting toe nails. This guy melts me.

^^ About 33 weeks! 

HAPPY EASTER

^^ Whatever make up I have out Ellie wants to play with it. Total girl.

^^ Rare sleeping moment captured 

^^ Helping put baby sisters crib together!

33 weeks

How far along?: 33 weeks and 4 days

Movement: Her movement isn't as often, but when it is happening, boy is she strong!

Total weight gain: 18 pounds total so far. I don't think I've mentioned, but for those that don't know, the recommended weight gain for me is 25-35 pounds. So I think...at least I hope...I'll be within that this pregnancy! I exceeded that by 3 pounds with Ellie and it certainly felt like it. Yeesh!

Maternity clothes: Since the belly is getting bigger and bigger, every day it seems, I've had to expand my wardrobe in the shirt department especially. I pretty much live in guys Hanes v-neck white t-shirts. I'd wear these a lot before pregnancy, but I just got one size up and they are still great! I've also snagged a couple of Steven's smaller shirts to wear. Trying to make the best out of what I have though, because I only have about a month left! There are some drawstring shorts I'm eyeing at Old Navy though, which would be nice to have post-pregnancy, too...

Currently craving: Ice cream, anything with chocolate and peanut butter sounds delicious (as it always has, but it's increased!!!), La Croix - Peach/Pear and passionfruit flavors and fish/cod sandwiches. And pretty much any junk food...though I try to limit it!

Anything make you sick or queasy?: Eating too much, which isn't surprising. Not as much food can be in my belly at once like it use to.

Stretch marks: I don't think I've gotten any new ones. I've mainly been using coconut oil on my whole mid-section at least twice a day and trying to drink plenty of water. When I was pregnant with Ellie a lot of the stretch marks I got came during the last month or two. So we'll see what happens, because really there is only so much I can do to prevent them.

Sleep: When night comes, I can't wait to put my head to my pillow. However, every once in awhile it can take me longer to fall asleep. Also, there have been a few nights where, around the 3 o'clock hour, after I get up to use the restroom for the 10th time (exaggerating, but it feels like it's that many times), it can take an hour or two to fall back asleep.

Feeling: Heartburn has been the most common and unpleasant symptom I have. But I pretty much eat and drink all the things that irritate that. Therefore, I think it's my fault I experience it every day! I'm also nesting like crazy with the babies room and want to have all I want/need for it, like, now! So, impatience is something I'm trying to tone down a couple notches. There are also moments where I get shortness of breath, after doing something such simple things such as picking up things around the house and sit down right after. Baby girl is putting pressure on my lungs for sure! Hot flashes have also made several appearances. Thankful I won't be pregnant during our hottest months!

Working on/thinking about: As I said in last paragraph, the babies room! I love how we're getting more and more of the furniture pieces and more of the decor together. I love walking in there and imagining it all in the end. Also, still thinking about labor often. Praying I have the strength to endure it and peace for any issues that arrive.

Favorite moment from this week: During my routine OB appointment last week I had a "just for fun of it" ultrasound. Granted the scan was on one of their old machines, the screen wasn't in a great spot and the PA was super fast at it. It was awesome to see little bits of our girl, even if it was for less than a minute.