Lennon {5 Months}

Hello Everyone,

Lennon is now 5 months {and I go back to work this week, cue the tears}! I know I say this every time I blog, but I just can't believe how fast the time is flying by! I wish we could take a giant pause so that she wouldn't grow up so fast.

Height: 25.5 inches

Weight: She is around 15 lbs. I won't have an exact weight until her 6 month check up.  

Eating: She is exclusively breastfeeding and I hope to continue this as long as I can once I go back to work. Send some prayers that my supply doesn't go away once I have to start pumping at work. 

Sleep: Lennon is still sleeping in our room in her Rock 'n Play. I just read that the AAP {American Academy of Pediatrics} said that it is best if they can still in your room until at least 6 months and more ideally until they are 1. I'm planning on switching her to a Pack 'n Play in our room soon. I'm just not emotionally ready to put her into her room yet, plus she's been sleeping great! She only wakes once for a feed around 5-6 and then sleeps until 8:30-9. Sleeping champ!  

Milestones: Lennon is just a world traveler! She's been so many place in her short 5 months of life. I hope to continue this throughout her life so that she has the same love and appreciation of travel that my parents instilled in me. She continues to giggle, roll over, and grab things. She loves to grab water bottles from people. She is recognizing more and more people and always puts a smile on her face when she meets someone new. 

Likes: Mommy, Daddy, Ziggy, talking, kicking, standing, giggling, smiling, tummy time {for a little while}, playing on her play mat, jumping her in jumperoo, exploring with mommy and daddy, going to her swim lessons, and traveling. 

Dislikes: I'm at a loss of what to put here this month. I think the one thing that she doesn't like is being hungry, which hardly every happens. I did have to wait a bit to feed her when we were flying so that she would be eating when we took off. She wasn't too happy about that. 

Personality: Lennon is just so mellow and easy going. As I said before, she always has a smile on her face and is giggling all the time. 

Nicknames: Lenni Bear, Pretty girl, Pretty Princess, Lenni Loo. 

Until next time!

The Storm {Part 2}

I needed answers. I needed to know what was going on.  I needed to know why this wasn't going to be the pregnancy that would make me a mother. 

I decided that the first doctor we saw for our pregnancy did not treat me with respect or even give us the time of day, so I decided to get a second opinion. I felt uneasy, like something wasn't quite right. I still felt completely pregnant, morning sickness, exhaustion, food aversions. How could I be miscarrying when I felt like this? I needed answers. 

I made an appointment with a different practice for November 21, 2014. So we went, and we waited. We had another ultrasound and still no heartbeat, in fact, what was there before, was now gone. They said they thought it was a blighted ovum and that they wanted to see me back a week later on November 28, the day after Thanksgiving. 

We had some friends over for Thanksgiving and I almost was able to forget about the entire situation. In the back of my mind, I knew things were not going to be easy in the coming days. I just knew something was wrong. Come to think of it, it seemed like something was wrong the entire pregnancy. 

The Mr. went to visit his brother the next day and I went to the doctor right after I dropped him off at the airport. I had an ultrasound and was chatting with the tech. I always ask a bunch of questions and then she just got silent and said that she was finished. My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest as the tech rushed out of the door and I got dressed. As I walked back out to the waiting room, I saw the tech huddled in the hallway with a bunch of people looking at my ultrasound pictures. My heart proceeded to beat faster and I felt myself start to panic. 

After 20 minutes of panicking and waiting, they finally called me back to a room. My {new and amazing} doctor walked in and told me I was experiencing a Molar Pregnancy {MP} and that they needed to remove it immediately. She proceeded to tell me that, depending on which kind of MP I had, we would have to wait a year to try again. I sobbed. Why was this happening? 

Just the night before that, I had looked up possible reasons for my symptoms and still being pregnant and came across a MP. I thought to myself, "geez, I hope that's not what I have." Then to hear all that I was hearing the next day, was just devastating. We desperately wanted to start our family and now I was being told that I needed to have surgery to remove my baby, that I fell in love with the second I got a positive pregnancy test, and that we couldn't try again for a very long time. I was heartbroken, depressed, and numb. Everything that happened after that was a blur. 

They scheduled me for a D&C, where they remove the contents of your womb, the next day. The Mr. was out of town {completely not his fault, as his trip was planned far in advance}, so my friend from work stayed with me the entire time I was in the hospital. I was admitted, then we waited, for what seemed like days. We watched numerous episodes of Friends and several movies, all while listening to the conversations of other patients around us. Oddly enough, it was kind of a fun day and I'm so thankful that my friend was there for me. 

Finally, they wheeled me back and removed the growth of tumorous cells that had formed in my womb. I remember asking, as I awoke, if they had gotten it all. I had done extensive research the night before and was very scared that some cancerous cells would be left behind. They assured me that everything was removed. I felt a sense of relief, but that was when our long journey began. Where I once felt love, I now felt empty. Like a whole part of me was removed. 

I went to the doctor a week later and found out that I had experienced a Complete MP, where "An egg with no genetic information is fertilized by a sperm. It does not develop into a fetus but continues to grow as a lump of abnormal tissue that looks a bit like a cluster of grapes and can fill the uterus." It turns out that my "baby" was never an actual baby, but believe me, from the moment I got that positive I was pregnant with a baby. No one could make me believe otherwise. It didn't matter if it was a nasty growth of cells, that "baby" was loved so much from the moment we knew. 

From there, I began the month long process of making sure my pregnancy did not cause me cancer. I went for weekly blood tests where the poked and prodded me like I was an animal at the state fair. I had holes in my arms and bruises from where the needles went in. I had anxiety waiting from my test results to come in. Each week was a waiting game. Each week my HCG (pregnancy hormone) kept going down. 

My HCG had fallen below 5 by January, which meant my body had finally rid itself of my pregnancy. I then moved onto monthly tests to make sure that my HCG stayed negative. Luckily, it did. We were cleared to try again in April after convincing my doctor to let us try after 3 monthly negatives, as opposed to her original year wait. I was so thankful and glad to be clear from this nightmare. 

I wish I could say that everything got easier right away, but it didn't. It took a long time to find peace. I constantly think about our "baby" that never came to be. I am constantly reminded of the struggle that we went through in those dark times. I am constantly reminded that we were meant to go through that storm because we now have our beautiful rainbow. 

Lennon {4 Months}

I cannot believe that she is already 4 months old! Time is going by way too quickly and I've only got one more month of my maternity leave. Just thinking about having to leave her brings tears to my eyes.

Anyways...

On to happier things! We went to her 4 month check up yesterday and her doctor said she looks amazing! So grateful that she is growing and healthy.

Height: 24.5 inches

Weight: 13 lbs 13 oz. 

Eating: She is still exclusively eating breastmilk. She seems to be starting to become more aware of food as she watches me eat. I'm going to take her cues on when to start introducing different foods into her diet. I don't think she's quite ready for that yet. 

Sleep: Lennon has this sleeping thing down pat {except for napping throughout the day}. She's been sleeping from 8:30pm to about 4:00am {and sometimes 5:00am} and then again until around 8:00am.  

Milestones: Lennon has rolled over from tummy to back and is working on rolling from back to tummy {she's almost there!}. She LOVES to giggle and be tickled. She is super talkative {sometimes in the most quiet of places}. If I hand her a toy she is able to grab it with both hands and bring it to her mouth. She is also starting to recognize her grandma, grandma and grandpa. 

Likes: Mommy, Daddy, Ziggy, talking, kicking, standing, giggling, smiling, tummy time {for a little while}, playing on her play mat, exploring with mommy and daddy, going to her swim lessons, and traveling. 

Dislikes: She still doesn't really dislike much. She doesn't like laying down, she would much rather be standing or sitting up. 

Personality: Lennon is still THE happiest baby. She loves to giggle, smile and hang out. She has got to be the most mellow little on that I've ever met. Even after her shots {she cried for a moment} she was kicking up a storm and talking to me. 

Nicknames: Lenni Bear, Pretty girl, Pretty Princess. I've been trying to call her by her name more so that she is able to recognize it and doesn't get too confused. She is starting to look at you when you say her name or any of her nicknames. Smart little cookie! 

The way that Ziggy is with her, melts my heart. He is so gentle and loves to give her kisses. 

That's all I've got for today! 

Until next time! 

The Storm {Part 1}

Sorry that I've been so absent lately. I haven't been feeling too inspired and have been super busy hanging out with Lennon. My days are numbered until I go back to work and I'm trying to soak up every moment with her. 

Today, I thought I would go back to the reason that I started this blog in the first place: my molar pregnancy. I never told the entire story about what happened and feel like I am ready to get it all off my chest and let it go for good. 

It was October 7,  2014 when I took a test. After waiting nearly seconds, it turned positive. It was REALLY positive. I took another test and it was positive too. Over the next couple days I took approximately 5 more tests, you know, just to be sure. And you guessed it, they were all positive. Then I finally got the courage to tell the Mr. and he was excited, which helped me to get more excited too. We were going to have a baby! 

I went to my family doctor to confirm that I was in fact pregnant because it seems that I just didn't believe it. They gave me a list of some OB/GYN's in the area. I hadn't been to a proper OB out here so I had no idea where to start. I did a lot of research to find the best one. I searched through every doctor website there was. I needed it to be a good fit as this person was going to help us through our pregnancy. We scheduled an appointment to confirm the due date {and hopefully see the heartbeat} when I would be 8 weeks. A day later I received a call from the doctor himself to talk about my asthma medication and how it would affect my pregnancy. He was very reassuring which made me feel like I had made the right decision in choosing him. 

I felt like time was standing still. 
We were just so excited and could not wait to tell our families. We let them know the good news so incredibly early because I just couldn't hold it in any longer. I also told some of my friends. We had a whole army {it seemed} excited with us. 

The time came, November 11, 2014, for our doctor's appointment. We arrived early to fill out new patient paperwork and then the nurse brought us back to the room. I remember the entire experience like it was yesterday. We waited for what seemed like ever. Finally, the doctor came in and asked a bunch of questions about my health and my asthma. I answered excitedly because I just wanted to be able to see {and hear our baby}. He left the room for a short period so I could prepare myself for the ultrasound. I remember giving the Mr. my phone to take pictures and videos when we could here the heartbeat. Little did I know what was coming. 

The doctor stepped back in and we got started. He started to search and found where the baby would be. The first words out of his mouth were "this looks like a miscarriage". He said it as if I had just ordered a coffee at Starbucks and the barista asked me if I wanted a miscarriage with that? So nonchalant, like it was no big deal.  Not exactly the words I was expecting, nor was I expecting it to be so harsh. I was in absolute shock. It just didn't make sense. He measured the "baby" and it was definitely measuring behind and did not have a heartbeat. I was devastated, but still didn't know what to think. 

The minute that he left the room, I completely broke down in sobs. I couldn't get it together, even though I knew I had to. We stepped out of the room and I went to get my labs drawn, all while still crying. I saw so many happily pregnant people walking around. I felt so defeated. 

The Mr. didn't know what to say or how to even comfort me. In those moments, I was inconsolable. 

They scheduled us an appointment to come back in two weeks, just to confirm that it was truly a miscarriage. Then they let us leave, just like that. No explanations for anything. We were completely in the dark. 

After we left, we went to get lunch and I remember just being so numb that I could barely eat anything. I nibbled at my chicken noodle soup and felt like the world around me was moving on, but I was stuck and time was standing still. 

I needed answers, so I began my search. 

Tune in next week Thursday for The Storm {Part 2}. 

Until next time!

Lennon {3 Months}

Soooo, Lennon is technically going to be 4 months of Friday {oops}. I realized that I never posted her 3 month update, so figured I should probably post that before I post her 4 month update. This is going to be a short, quick post, but I hope you all enjoy her little smile. It sure brightens my day!

Height: 23.5 inches {I wrote it wrong in the picture}

Weight: Around 12 lbs. We don't have a very accurate scale that tells us ounces. 

Eating: She is still only eating breastmilk and due to being on vacation I had to stop pumping, so she is exclusively on the boob. 

Sleep: We put her to bed around 8:30 and have our bedtime routine down pat. We either take a bath {only twice a week} or just go straight to lotion and PJ's. Then we read two books, eat, and sleep. She is a sleeping champ. Right now she's sleep from 8:30-4ish and sometimes until 5, then sleeping until 8ish. 

Milestones: Lennon has started to giggle and let me tell you, it melts my heart every single time. She went for her first airplane ride and she was such a good girl! She's in swimming lessons and seems to love it. She does not like to lay down, instead wants to stand all the time. When we were in Wisconsin, she met a bunch of her friends!

Likes: Mommy, Daddy, Ziggy, kicking, standing, giggling, talking, finding her voice, smiling, tummy time {for a little while},  going on adventures in Wisconsin, cooler weather {in WI} so we can be outside, hanging out with her Great-Grandpa and the rest of Mommy's family. 

Dislikes: She still doesn't dislike much, except for laying down when she's awake. 

Personality: Lennon is so mellow and smiley all the time. She hardly ever cries. She loves to smile when you smile at her and is giggling up a storm. 

Nicknames: Lenni Bear, Pretty girl, Pretty Princess

Until next time!

Lennon {2 Months}

Hello Everyone,

Lennon is 2 months old today! WHERE did the last 8 weeks go?? I seriously feel like they FLEW by. She has changed so much and is getting stronger every day.

Romper: Old, Similar Here
Bow: Made by Moi

Height: 22.5 inches

Weight: 11 lbs 4 oz. 

Eating: I am exclusively breastfeeding her and she eats ALL. THE. TIME. I swear I don't get a break. I'm pretty sure she's going through a growth spurt right now and needs the extra nourishment. 

Sleep: Little miss is ALMOST sleeping through the night. The last couple nights she has slept from 8:30-5am like a champ! Then she sleeps until about 7:30. She is still napping several times throughout the day and has officially been napping in her crib. I just can't allow myself to sleep at night in her crib just yet. 

Milestones: Lennon can now lift her head while doing tummy time. She is starting coo. She can stand while we're holding her. I swear she's on the verge of giggling. She kicks, kicks, kicks and is working on trying to sit up. 

Likes: Mommy, Daddy, Ziggy, the ceiling fan, kicking, standing, cooing, smiling, tummy time {for a little while}, playing on her play mat, having play dates with Harper {well maybe Mommy likes this more}, Facetiming with Grandma and Grandpa in Wisconsin, and hanging out with Grandma in Arizona. 

Dislikes: She really doesn't dislike much. I'd say the two things she doesn't like is not being held and getting her shots. {That was probably more traumatizing for me.}

Personality: Lennon is THE happiest baby I have ever seen. She smiles all the time and is so mellow. The only time she ever cries is when she's hungry or wants to be held. 

Nicknames: Lenni Bear, Pretty girl, Little Princess {I know, super corny, but it just happened}. 

Next blog post will NOT be Lennon related {well maybe a little bit}, I promise!

Until next time!

Lennon's Nursery

Well, I have FINALLY finished Lennon's room. It only took me 6 months to do it. To be honest, though, we were waiting on all of the artwork for the walls which my mom painted and brought when she came for Lennon's birth. I absolutely LOVE how everything turned out. I hope Lennon learns to love it as much as I do.

There are so many DIY projects in this room, along with some personalized gifts from Lennon's Grandparents and friends. It's very vintage/eclectic/floral/shabby chic and I love every bit of it.

I made the growth chart and will do a blog post on that soon. My mom made the Lennon Claire canvas painting and I bought the picture frame from Hobby Lobby and just stapled some twine to hang all of Lennon's Ultrasound pictures on it. The little cross was a gift from one of my co-workers. I purchased the rocking chair at an antique store and re-did it. 

A nice compilation of all aspects of her room. I made the ribbon and feather mobile {it has a dream catcher made of twine in the middle} and love how it turned out. The You Are My Sunshine board was actually a wall decal that I decoupaged onto a board that I stained. 

I love how this area turned out. My friends tied all the ribbons on the garland at my baby shower. The antler's are from Francesca's {a present from my friend}. The letters are from Michael's and were decoupaged by my mom {she's amazing}. The changing pad cover is from Carousel Designs. 

More views of my mom's artwork! Lennon's crib is from Target. Her bedding, crib skirt, and crib blanket {major heart eyes} are from Carousel Designs. 

We found these night stands at a local antique store and they match PERFECTLY with everything else in her room. BONUS that I didn't have to redo them. EXTRA BONUS it looks like they are smiling:-)..

The Rocking chair I found at an Antique store near us and completely redid it. I bought the crates at Michael's and stained them to match the growth chart that I made. The step stool was a gift from my parent's best friends. 

All of my mom's artwork. Heart eyes for all of it. It turned out beautifully. Leave a comment if you'd be interested in some of her work! 

The ladder and dresser were purchased at the same antique store near us. I absolutely love it there. I ALWAYS find a project whenever we go there. The ladder was perfect the way it was, I just put 4-5 layers of polycrylic finish. The dresser had to be completely stripped and redone. We even stripped the handles. It turned out better than I ever imagined. The cart next to her dresser was from IKEA.  

Like I said, there are a lot of DIY projects in Lennon's room. She's got a lot of love surrounding her!

Until next time!

Mommy Monday {Lennon is 1 Month}

Well hello everyone! We are still trying to adjust to life with our precious little miracle. We are starting to develop a routine and are getting into the swing of things. My parents left last week so it has just been me and Lennon while the Mr. is at work. I can't believe how fast time is going and I am just trying to soak in all of the precious moments with my little love.

I'm finally starting to feel "normal" again after giving birth. It took about 2 weeks for my pain to subside and I'm {almost} back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I still have some toning to catch up on and a few more lbs to lose. My doctor approved my going back to yoga and slowly introducing more intense workouts. I've been wearing a Belly Bandit Original and Hip Bandit to help everything go back to its rightful place. As far as my stretch marks and cellulite go, I've been using It Works Stretch Mark Cream and It Works Defining Gel.

Lennon is growing so fast! She is already 9 lbs 2 oz. and 21.5 in long! She's got the cutest little belly button and she's so alert. She is starting to smile, will follow your finger with her eyes, and if you stick your tongue out at her she will do it back. She likes to look outside with her brother Ziggy and loves to eat. When she is hungry she will start to move her arms in jerky movements {Rapid Arm Movements, RAM}. We have nicknamed her Lenni Bear, Lenni, and Pretty Girl. We love her to pieces and can't wait to see how she grows in the next month!

Until next time!

Lennon Claire {5.30.16}

Well, hello everyone! I know it's been quite some time since I last blogged, but for a very good reason! Our precious little Rainbow baby was born on May 30 at 9:21pm. Lennon Claire is an absolute miracle and is such a mellow little baby. We have been extremely blessed with her. I won't go into details {in this post} on her birth, but I wanted everyone to meet her! I actually had taken a bump photo the day that my water broke thinking that I wasn't going to go into labor anytime soon {and had planned on posting a Mommy Monday}. Little did I know...

How far along? 40 weeks, 6 days!
Total weight gain: I think I gained close to 35 lbs during my entire pregnancy. I am now down 20 of those lbs since I had her.
Maternity clothes: Dresses or my maternity yoga clothes. As soon as I get home, I change immediately into my nightgown, which is one of the only things I am comfortable in anymore.
Stretch marks: I'm still using the Nivea Q10 Plus Skin Firming Lotion on my legs and arms. I'm still using my It Works Stretch Mark Cream {even post-pregnancy}. 
 Workouts: I was still attending Prenatal Yoga until the end of my pregnancy and also going for walks. 
Sleep: I did not get much sleep at the end of my pregnancy. In fact, I'm actually getting better sleep now that Lennon is here, than I was before. I used my Boppy Pregnancy Wedge until the bitter end. 
Best moment this week: Finishing up the school year and being able to work all the way to the end!
Miss anything? I now actually miss all of her kicks inside my belly. However, I much prefer her here
Movement: I was feeling her kicks and elbow movements even while in labor. This is the one thing I now miss.  
Food cravings: I really haven't had any crazy cravings, still drinking chocolate almond milk. 
Anything making you queasy or sick? Not a thing! Thank goodness!
Gender: Girl!
Labor signs: I went to the doctor the friday after her due date and was sent to the hospital {again} for mildly high blood pressure. They hooked me up to monitors and did blood tests, but concluded that my blood pressure was indeed NOT high and sent me on my way. I was having contractions while I was there, but they were about 25 minutes apart and not strong by any means. 
Belly button in or out? It is STILL an inny. It never did pop out.
Wedding rings on or off? Still only wearing my wedding band.
Happy or moody most of the time: My mood was happy at the end.
Baby Arrival Guesstimate: No more guesses, Baby Girl's birthday is May 30. She stayed put even longer than I thought she would.
Looking forward to: Seeing our little miracle thrive and grow. 

Here are some pictures from Lennon's first days in this world: 

 

Lennon has one of the best Daddy's in this world! She is quite lucky. 

Until next time! 

Mommy Monday {40 Weeks}

FULL TERM! We have made it to Baby Girl's Due Date {which is technically tomorrow}. I haven't had any signs of labor yet, but I'm sure that can change at the drop of a dime.  I have {hopefully} my last check up at my doctor tomorrow. Everything is about to change and I couldn't be more excited! I can't wait to see what this little baby's face looks like. I'm so curious to see all her features and see who she looks like!

How far along? 40 weeks!
Total weight gain: I still haven't gained any more weight! 30 lbs and holding strong!
Maternity clothes: Dresses or my maternity yoga clothes. As soon as I get home, I change immediately into my nightgown, which is one of the only things I am comfortable in anymore.
Stretch marks: I'm still using the Nivea Q10 Plus Skin Firming Lotion on my legs and arms. I'm still alternating between my It Works Stretch Mark Cream and my Honest Co. Organic Belly Balm on my belly, boobs, and bum {the 3 B's}.
 Workouts: Prenatal Yoga is about all I can handle now and I've been going more frequently these last couple weeks! 
Sleep: I think I'm starting to get subconsciously paranoid about my water breaking or having horrendous contractions. I keep waking up thinking "is this it?" and then can't fall back asleep. I NEED MORE SLEEP. No doubt about that.  I am still using my Boppy Pregnancy Wedge which is definitely saving my back and keeping my spine aligned. 
Best moment this week: My mom arriving on Saturday! I'm so glad she is here and feel like I'm finally ready for things to get moving!
Miss anything? Sleep.
Movement: She is still pretty active, which is a very good thing. I get nervous when she is "Sleeping" and not moving very much. 
Food cravings: I'm back to craving chocolate almond milk. It is just so delicious. I also have been a big fan of Watermelon and Tabouleh {my mom makes it so well and she whipped me up a batch today}. 
Anything making you queasy or sick? I have been feeling nauseous here and there, but nothing I can't handle.
Gender: Girl!
Labor signs: Same old, same old here. I'm having inconsistent Braxton Hicks, but nothing is sticking around or hurting. Last week, the nurse said I should go to the hospital when I can't "walk, talk, or text" through my contractions. I'm not having those quite yet.
Belly button in or out? It is STILL an inny. I just knew it would never pop out. I have such a deep inny, it's like the Grand Canyon.
Wedding rings on or off? Still only wearing my wedding band.
Happy or moody most of the time: My mood has been mostly irritable these last couple days. I hope that changes because I really don't like being so crabby!
Baby Arrival Guesstimate: At this point, if I can make it through tomorrow {which is the Talent Show at school that I'm in charge of}, I will consider myself good to go! Anytime after that will be just fine!
Looking forward to: Same as last week, the end of school and being able to meet this baby girl! 

Until next time!

Mommy Monday {39 weeks}

39 weeks down, 1 week to go! Right now, I'm just taking things one day at a time. Hoping to make it the full 40 weeks and maybe beyond. We shall see what happens! This weeks picture was quite an experiment. The Mr. has the Samsung S6 Active phone, which is apparently waterproof. We decided to test it out yesterday in our pool. 

How far along? 39 weeks!

Total weight gain: Last week I was still 30lbs at the doctor! 

Maternity clothes: Literally, the only thing comfortable is dresses. I've tried a couple times to squeeze myself into my maternity jeans and it's just not happening. I mean they fit, but I am UNCOMFORTABLE. 

Stretch marks: I'm still using the Nivea Q10 Plus Skin Firming Lotion on my legs and arms.  I received my It Works Stretch Mark Cream {yay!} so I'm alternating between that and my Honest Co. Organic Belly Balm on my belly, boobs, and bum {the 3 B's}. 

Workouts: Prenatal Yoga is about all I can handle now. My right hip is preventing me from doing much walking these days. 

Sleep: Sleeping is getting increasingly more difficult. I'm up about 50 times using the bathroom and then I've been pretty restless around 4am every morning {which is when I've been getting my amazon shopping done}. My Boppy Pregnancy Wedge is still saving my life, one night at a time. 

Best moment this week: Floating in our pool. It is legitimately the best thing in the world right now. I could do it all day every day {if not for the extreme heat and risk of cancer}. I feel so weightless and all my pains just melt away. Unfortunately, I then have to get out and feel all the weight hanging in my belly and immediately my hip begins to hurt again. Bummer. 

Miss anything? Not at the moment! 

Movement: She is a little squirm worm! Constantly moving and kicking my sides. 

Food cravings: I really haven't been having any crazy cravings recently. I actually feel like I'm eating more like I did pre-pregnancy. It's a little refreshing! 

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope!

Gender: Girl!

Labor signs: I'm still only have a Braxton Hicks contraction here and there, but nothing consistent. It seems they happen most when I'm moving around a lot and not drinking enough water. {Same story as last week}

Belly button in or out? This belly button has literally one week to pop out. It's not gonna happen. So if anyone had any bets, I'm sorry, but you're gonna lose! 

Wedding rings on or off? Still only wearing my wedding band. 

Happy or moody most of the time: I've been pretty happy! 

Baby Arrival Guesstimate: Still hoping for May 28th or later. Last day of my contract at work is May 27. 

Looking forward to: The end of school and being able to meet this baby girl! 

Until next time! 

Mommy Monday {38 weeks}

I feel like every week I start these posts the same way "Well, here we are at 38 weeks..." but I'm just kind of bored with that. So let me tell you that I'm pretty sure I've 100% immersed myself in the nesting stage of my pregnancy. I've been finishing projects, starting new projects, trying to put the finishing touches on her room, packing all of our hospital bags, and buying last minute things. I'm still hoping to hold out until at least her due date {then at least my mom will be here}. I'm sure my co-workers are thinking otherwise as we have our annual Talent Show ON my due date and I'm in charge of it {uh oh!}. Cross your fingers that she waits until the last day of school!

I took my pictures yesterday when the Mr., my mother in law, and I went out for Mother's Day. Hope you enjoy!

That bump is huge! 

How far along? 38 weeks!

Total weight gain: It seems that I'm holding pretty steady at 30lbs!  

Maternity clothes: More dresses! I will occasionally wear one of the two pair's of Maternity Jeans that I have, but my legs seem to be retaining water and by the end of the day my legs are indented! 

Stretch marks: Still have the silly butt stretch marks. I'm still using my Honest Co. Organic Belly Balm and Nivea Q10 Plus Skin Firming Lotion every day to try and avoid them everywhere else! I still haven't ordered that new stretch mark cream, but I fully intend to this week! 

Workouts: Prenatal Yoga and Walks. Same old, same old here. 

Sleep: It seems I'm getting a little bit better sleep the last couple nights. I haven't been getting up as many times. I did, however, have a few nights last week that I was up for an hour or so at a time. I even watched a coupe shows! My Boppy Pregnancy Wedge is still saving my life, one night at a time. 

Best moment this week: Attending my old roommate {and good friend} RoseAnn's wedding. 

Miss anything? Not at the moment! 

Movement: Most of the time, she is very active. However, one of the sleepless nights last week was because she wasn't moving. I stayed up for over an hour to count her kicks to make sure all was well {I'm pretty paranoid like that}. I drank chocolate milk and watching a show. Finally, I felt comfortable with her movement!  

Food cravings: Oh all I want is a glorious turkey bacon BLT. I'm pretty sure that's what is on the menu for dinner tomorrow night! 

Anything making you queasy or sick? Nope!

Gender: Girl!

Labor signs: I'm still only have a Braxton Hicks contraction here and there, but nothing consistent. It seems they happen most when I'm moving around a lot and not drinking enough water. 

Belly button in or out? Still in and sneaking it's way out. I'm still not convinced it's gonna pop out before she comes!

Wedding rings on or off? Still only wearing my wedding band. 

Happy or moody most of the time: My irritable mood has seemed to have passed {thank goodness!}. 

Baby Arrival Guesstimate: Still hoping for May 28th or later. Last day of my contract at work is May 27. 

Looking forward to: One of my best friends visiting with her baby boy from Virginia. Can't wait to see her and meet baby Greer! 

Until next time!