Week 32

Posting this a couple of days early since we're off to Hilton Head. I've been doing very well. Feeling pretty good and getting lots of nice comments about how great I look. I think pregnancy really does suit me. :)

The swelling in my ankles and feet has increased over the last couple of weeks. I have been downing the water at a ridiculous rate but that doesn't seem to help too much. I think sitting at a desk all day and the heat are starting to take affect. In the last 2 weeks I have also developed carpal tunnel symptoms in my right wrist and hand. From my reading, that also appears to be due to increased fluids and swelling. Don't have much longer, though, and this little girl is so worth it. All in all, I really have not been too uncomfortable at all.

Nursery update: we went to pick up the armoire for Mia's room and it was not in stock so we had to order it. Delivery is supposed to take 7 to 10 days. We did find a nice glider on sale and GranE bought that for Mia's room. We were able to take something home with us, at least. It looks really nice sitting by the window. I'll get a picture posted when I get a chance. Still need to purchase the changing table/dresser, get a few decorative items and the bedding and we should be all set. It's all coming together nicely.

I think that's about it. If there is anything significant to report from the doctor's appointment today and I have time before we leave I'll post about it. Otherwise, have a spectacular rest of the week and weekend!

Week 31

Another week down. Not too much to report. Miss Mia has been moving around a good bit but compared to her usual activity, she's been fairly quiet. I think she's getting ready to go through another growth spurt. My little munchkin is getting so big. She should be about 16 inches long now and weigh a little more than 3 pounds. I can actually tell that she is head down right now. I discovered the other morning, after my shower, that I can tell exactly where she is by leaning backwards. I can see the outline of her tiny little body and narrow butt. It just made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. :)

My next doctor's appointment is next Wednesday and afterwards we are headed to Hilton Head! Ahhh.....we are really looking forward to this trip. The following weekend we have our childbirth class and our second shower. The next two weeks are going to be full of excitement! Come to think of it, I think my entire life will be full of excitement from now on. ;)

Have a great weekend!

Our first baby shower

Our first baby shower was great and so much more than we both expected! The generosity of my co-workers, friends, and our family was just overwhelming. Mia got a lot of beautiful clothes that she is going to look absolutely adorable in and many other nice items that she will need such as a stroller, tub, bath accessories, toys & books, blankets, gift cards. There was SO much! I'm looking forward to going through everything again.



Mommy got a very special gift as well from GranE. A beautiful charm bracelet with a little girl charm and a heart charm with Mia's name and birth year engraved on it. She is such a special little girl and is going to be very loved. She already is VERY loved. :)



Update on the doctors appointment this morning: My cervix is not effaced or dilated which is exactly how it's supposed to be, apparently. I do have 10 weeks left. I guess it is kinda early to be expecting any changes yet. :) Also, I did not look at the scale but when the doc got to that part he said, "You're doing great on your weight. Keep it up." I told him I was no longer looking at the scale and to please not tell me. He just laughed and said I was doing great. Great!

Here are some pics from the shower. I did not have my camera set correctly so the pics from my camera didn't turn out so well except for the bracelet picture. The pics posted of the shower are courtesy of Papa.

Week 30

Only 10 weeks left. 70 days until her due date. I'm getting more and more anxious to meet her. She's gone through another growth spurt and is getting big. She probably weighs about 3 pounds right now. My belly button is just about non-existant. I'm guessing it will completely "pop" in the next two weeks.

I have a doctor's appointment at 11:30 this morning and he is going to check my cervix. I'm excited about hearing "you're 50% effaced" or something that I really won't understand but I'll know it's something that is bringing me that much closer to labor. I will not be posting any updates about weight because I have decided that I will no longer be looking at the numbers on the scale. Since I am curious about the difference in weight before and after birth, I plan to weigh myself at home right before I leave for the hospital. Then, a few days after I'm home, I'm going to weigh myself again. I don't know why that interests me so much but it does.

Our first shower is at noon today. I am so excited. Clay is coming to it and so are most of the grandparents. Mia got an early gift yesterday because the lady is going out of town today and can't make the shower. She gave Mia 3 cute little summer outfits. One with a matching headband, another with ruffles and a matching hat, and the third in a pretty yellow and blue. We have a busy day ahead of us!

The weekend was nice and relaxing but it sure flew by entirely too fast. Clay and I took advantage of the weather on Saturday and went to a USC baseball game. Afterwards, we went to a shop to use a gift certificate we'd received as a wedding gift; stopped by Ben & Jerry's for some turtle soup; got to the farmer's market a little too late and instead of buying fruits and veggies we bought two plants for the back yard.

Sunday was nice. The weather was stormy off and on all day. We got hail at our house during two different boughts. It was odd looking out the window and finding a yard full of little balls of ice. We had a nice lunch at Wild Wings. Clay gave me a beautiful silver rocking horse charm and a card he made just for me. It was the sweetest card about how I am going to be a perfect mommy and Mia is going to be the most loved child in the whole world. I certainly can't argue with that last part.

Mommy's Day

I got my very first mommy's day card in the mail yesterday. It was from my very good friend, Donna, who lives in Charlotte and who I miss very much. It was the sweetest mom-to-be card about peanut butter kisses and pudgey fingers and naps in the lap. Wow, I can't believe I'm going to be someone's mommy soon. :)

Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful mothers out there.

Week 29

Here we are beginning a new pregnancy week. There are days that I can't believe I am so far along and then other days where 9 months seems like an eternity. Mia is so active and she has a daily routine of it. She makes me laugh a lot with her antics: dancing on my bladder, tapping her little foot (at least, that's what it feels like), making my whole belly shake. I got a foot in the ribs for the first time a few nights ago. She still gets balled up in her spot on the left side although she's growing so much it's not quite as noticeable as before. We really need to try to get a picture before it's completely impossible. I was also feeling around my belly the other morning and think I felt a tiny foot. It's still hard for me to tell what's what, so I'm just going to imagine that's what I was feeling. :)

I am so excited about her upcoming arrival. The nursery is all painted. Clay surprised me the other day and brought home the crib, mattress, and crib pads that Papa bought for Mia. I was going to post a picture of the crib after Clay put it together, but I decided to wait until the bedding is ready. Our first shower is next Friday and we have another one in June. Most of all, I am very anxious to hold her and kiss her. I can't wait to smell her baby smell.

Here is what babycenter.com has to say about her progress for this new week:

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to accommodate her brain — which is busy developing billions of neurons. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester. To keep yourself and her well nourished, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and calcium. (About 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton — which is now hardening — every day.)

I have been trying to get more protein and dairy in the last week. I've found that eating more protein is helping me feel full longer and I've noticed my snacking has reduced. After my appointment last Friday and the issue of weight, I think I am okay with it again. I get complimented a lot on how great I look while pregnant and I really should start to listen to that instead of letting it go in one ear and out the other. My clothes fit and I'm healthy so I really shouldn't be upset about the weight gain at all. I will have plenty of opportunity to get it off after she is here so I'm just not going to worry about it anymore and stop telling myself I'm fat. I love Clay's response to this when I say "I'm fat". He gets this very serious look on his face and tells me, "You are NOT fat! You are pregnant, baby." Then he gets this huge smile on his face as if the fact that I'm really going to have a baby becomes more of a reality. I couldn't ask for a better person to be married too. I firmly believe that this is the first time in my entire life that I can truly say I am completely happy.

Nursery - Step 1: Painting

Complete!

Week 28

We are officially in the third trimester! I had a doctor's appointment this morning. Mia was active, kicking the heartbeat monitor, and her heartbeat was a strong 152. I have gained a whopping 41 pounds so far and Dr. E said I needed to "watch the weight". I won't harp too much on that because I've been having to force myself all morning not to cry about it so that's all I have to say about that. Apparently, one person can eat too much fruit.

We got a lot of our questions answered today. I was happy to learn that they do not routinely do inductions or episiotomies; only if absolutely necessary. They definitely will not do another routine ultrasound unless there is a problem. If we wanted them to do one that wasn't medically necessary, insurance wouldn't pay for it and it would cost us around $300-$500. But he has no objections to the 4-D ultrasound which don't seem to cost as much as the regular...if we decide to do one. My blood pressure was good. Our appointments will now be every two weeks until 36 weeks. Then it will be once a week. Next appointment is May 19th at 11:30, right before our first shower. I am so excited about that baby shower.