Week 30 'Bumpdate!'

30 Weeks!  (That's my, "I just woke up, from barely sleeping, let's get a picture," look)

Weight: 26lbs. 
Symptoms: SO exhausted! Which explains the lack of posts! This week it has really hit me and I want to nap, all day long, desperately. I really do not know how pregnant woman work on their feet all day.. y'all are amazing. Speaking of exhaustion.. this could partly be due to the new found pregnancy insomnia I have been experiencing. I don't know how I have never mentioned this is previous posts but I also get horrible breakouts and have since the beginning thanks to hormones. Nothing really helps and I don't like to use anything that isn't natural so I just look like a teenager! My legs have been hurting if I do too much and I had another horrible charlie horse after waking up the other day. My hips still hurt at night if I am on one side for too long. I also am just generally achey-ish.. My tummy is tight a lot and I unfortunately still deal with constipation although it's definitely not as bad. I have noticed a tiny bit of swelling but nothing too bad. I have also been getting little snippets of morning sickness again. There have been a couple of days I felt so nauseous, I had to just go lay down. I'm back to trying to eat every 2 hours again so that this won't happen. 

Clothes: Well.. most of my pregnancy shorts have gotten too small. They feel too tight to wear so I have been wearing as many dresses/skirts as possible. They say to order your pre-pregnancy size.. but I have grown in more than just my belly.. so I just don't see how that can be true! So I ordered some more (bigger sizes) with a gift card I had to Old Navy just to get me through the next 3 months. I ordered a dress there early on that was a small (and was rather big on me!) and it's now too tight. My belly is certainly not the only thing that grew... I think my hips and thighs have doubled. ;)

Sleep: Pregnancy Insomnia is NO joke. I usually wake up at 4 or 5 am and cannot go back to sleep. Sometimes earlier. No matter how tired I am .. it's just not happening. I always thought I might just bypass this.. but I didn't get so lucky ;) That mixed with the ridiculous amount of times I still get up to use the bathroom.. I don't get much good sleep.    Cravings/Aversions: I still love me some chocolate. I am soooo glad my 3-hour glucose test was OK because I just could not fathom giving up my beloved sweets! I love burgers lately and have been REALLY hungry. The fullness I had in the second-trimester was enough to make me have small bites of something and be done, but it's been better lately and I feel very hungry. Oh, and I love Starbucks again.. which is terrible and I MAKE myself limit it because of how expensive it. I do get decaf most of the time but I just love the taste.  I HATE prune juice. The thought of it actually makes me want to vomit but I do drink it sometimes.. when necessary.. 
Baby- Our girl is doing good. Heart rate has been in the 140's. She's growing like crazy and according to my app, she is the size of a cucumber at 16 inches and could be 3+ pounds!!
Dr Appointment:  Went back in for the 3-hour glucose test.. and passed! Yay! My fasting was really good and so were the other three so everything was good! Baby Girl's heartbeat was in the 140's this week and and had been active right before my appointment. I am really enjoying this every 2 weeks thing.. Feels like I don't have to wait as long to ask all my crazy questions :) 
  Movement: She still has specific times during the day where she will move. Normally, right when I get up, she is the most active. If I have a really sweet drink, she will also be moving like crazy but other than that, she seems to be a very chill baby. Some of my friends will tell me their baby moves all day long and that has just never been the case with her. It makes me a little sad (and sometimes worried!) but she is moving in all the amounts she should and is very healthy so.. I guess I just don't have a very active baby! That and I know because of the location of my placenta, I have to pay more attention to her movements because I can't feel them as strong.. especially since I am almost positive she moved positions and I think she is right behind it now. I used to feel her on the sides but she must have moved head down because I only feel her low or up in my ribs now. I have been feeling hiccups like crazy finally! I always thought maybe she just didn't have them but she certainly does! The other day she had them 3 times in one day and has had them at least once a day since I began feeling them. It's pretty cute!    How I am feeling: Feeling ...tired haha. I have been wanting to see her more and more and have been imagining her in my tummy whenever she kicks. It's just becoming so real that we will have her with us in 10 weeks (give or take!) 30 weeks seemed so far away to me and now it feels like such a big number! With that has definitely come more anxiety! I know my hormones definitely play a role in this and I am so, so grateful for having been equipped with how to deal with anxiety a while before I was ever pregnant. Also having the most understanding husband who is always reassuring me & speaking truth to me doesn't hurt! ;) I am also feeling excited to see her sweet little face. I have had dreams of nursing her and bonding and I am so looking forward to that time with her. It should also be said.. I had a dream I had triplets. Ha..  

How Daddy's feeling: "FEELING EXCITED TO SEE BABY GIRL."
Random: We have a 4-D ultrasound coming up this Friday! We scheduled this a while ago because we wanted to give our family the opportunity to come with us and be a part of one. I really hope she shows us her sweet little face! I cannot wait to see which one of us she looks more like and which features she has! I will also get to see how she is positioned!  We had our very first Baby class last night on breastfeeding. We really liked our instructor and it was good to hear all the information. Although I have done a ton of research on it, it was so helpful to see (with props of course) some really great ways to nurse your baby. 

Other Stuff:  Nathan & I leave Saturday for a mini-stayca/babymoon & I am SO excited. It is our absolute favorite thing to just hang out with each other by a pool somewhere. I am soaking up every last minute alone with him! This past weekend, my aunt took me for a spa day and we had so much fun! I have been desperately trying to think of something to get my mama for all she's been doing for us (and always has!) and Mother's Day of course.. and after this past weekend, I knew something like that would be the perfect gift & a way to spend time with her so we have that all set for June! Next week we have our maternity pictures! Then in 2 weeks we leave for Youth Camp.. I am just praying I can't get through the weekend (and all the walking!) and looking forward to cooler weather! Everything seems to be happening so fast!
Check out my other Pregnancy related posts!   Becoming Parents 27&28 Week 'Bumpdate' 25 week 'Bumpdate' 24 Week 'Bumpdate' 22 & 23 Week 'Bumpdate' 21 Week 'Bumpdate' 19 & 20 Week 'Bumpdate' 17 & 18 Week 'Bumpdate' 16 Week 'Bumpdate'  14 & 15 Week 'Bumpdate'  13 Week 'Bumpdate' 0-12 Weeks 'Bumpdate' Pregnancy Announcement   If you want to see more of the bump, let's be friends on Instagram!

27 & 28 Week 'Bumpdate'

Weight: 22 lbs. 
Symptoms: mild cramping where things are still growing and expanding which is perfectly normal. Little jabs here and there when baby moves or is in one spot to long. I'm certainty feeling much more tired lately but not nearly the unmotivated feeling I had felt in the first trimester. At night, I switch sides so often because my thighs and hips will be hurting and cramping terribly. 

Clothes: Dresses, Long tank tops, and all maternity bottoms unless it's a maxi skirt or workout shorts. 

Sleep: I still get up really often to use the restroom.. almost seems like more now.. it's hard to roll around and get out of bed so it makes for restless sleep but I am still sleeping good other than that with the occasional up at 1 am.. can't go back to sleep kind of night.    Cravings/Aversions: Chocolate anything. Before pregnancy I really was not that much of a sweet eater.. but my goodness.. that has changed. My love for Starbucks is back, thank goodness for giftcards! This past week Nathan and I went to Cracker Barrel for dinner because I was craving some french toast! I was only able to eat 2 half slices and even that felt like I overdid it. I also was deeply craving a vanilla cone with some sprinkles.. which my husband gladly got me! :)
Baby- Baby girl is good! Had an appointment last week and her heart rate was 135. Slowed down a little and I asked the Dr about this. She said that's perfectly normal as their hearts don't have to pump as much and work as hard at this stage and it will continue to decrease until birth! 
Dr Appointment:  I went and got my 1-hour glucose test last Friday and my results were 137. Most Dr's require 140 or lower but my Dr. requires 130 or lower so now I have to go back for the 3-hour. I hate giving blood and being poked but I know they are just being cautious. Because my number would have passed me with many other Doctors I am really hopeful but prayer is appreciated!    Movement: Baby girl is getting bigger and I can definitely feel it! The bigger she gets, the more uncomfortable her movements seem to become but I love it more than anything! She seems to be moving more often or maybe because she is bigger I feel it much more. The other day she kicked me 3 times really hard it almost hurt! She also likes to mostly stick to my left side.. It's where I always feel her moving! I've tried getting her on camera because she will shake my whole belly or roll but she gets shy and won't move until I turn it off again!    How I am feeling: I'm feeling excited! I am looking forward to all that we have coming up in the next three months and am trying to soak up every minute! I get emotional when I think about her sometimes and just want to meet her and see her precious little face. I'm constantly wondering who she will look like! I've also noticed the further a long I get, the more anxiety I've been experiencing. Not necessarily always about baby being here soon, but just about many things and  more than previous trimesters. I know it has something to do with all these crazy hormones as well! 

How Daddy's feeling: "daddy is feeling like a daddy. Seems like the days are taking soooo long but it is only because I’m so looking forward to seeing her." 
Random: The other day I fell backwards in my office chair. Luckily, it's a very comfy chair and it broke my fall and I landed right on my back. My back is a little sore and I have a bruise on my arm but more than anything it just scared me because I'm pregnant. After a routine call to triage she said it was fine and to just monitor baby's movements (which have been great!) & to make sure to let them know if there is any spotting (which there isn't!) She said it would take a lot to hurt the baby because she is protected in the big bubble that is her amniotic fluid home so that made me feel a lot better. Just glad I didn't fall a different way and hurt her!  And it's OK, you can laugh, I did too.. of course after the initial shock and tears. I still am unsure how exactly that happened... 
Other Stuff: We have SO much going on in the next three months! I know they're going to fly by and I am trying to enjoy every single minute of being pregnant. Despite any symptoms, I have really loved being pregnant. It has been such a neat bonding experience between Nathan & I and I love feeling this little one move more than anything. By the end of this month we will have gone to 3 doctor appointments, 2 lab testings, a 4D Ultrasound, breastfeeding class, our babymoon, a spa appointment with my awesome aunt, a hair appointment and maternity pictures! Woo! And that's just baby stuff.. I am afraid to think about all the other normal "youth" stuff we have with graduations, CAMP,  and end of the school year stuff! 
Check out my other Pregnancy related posts!   Becoming Parents 25 week 'bumpdate' 24 Week 'Bumpdate' 22 & 23 Week 'Bumpdate' 21 Week 'Bumpdate' 19 & 20 Week 'Bumpdate' 17 & 18 Week 'Bumpdate' 16 Week 'Bumpdate'  14 & 15 Week 'Bumpdate'  13 Week 'Bumpdate' 0-12 Weeks 'Bumpdate' Pregnancy Announcement   If you want to see more of the bump, let's be friends on Instagram!

Sweet Lily Hope

Just wanted to share these sweet photos Nathan & I had the pleasure of taking of our very good friends new baby girl, Lillian Hope. Isn't she absolutely precious? Congratulations Jamie & Andee! We are so, so happy for you both!

25 week {Easter} 'Bumpdate'

25 Weeks (actually I'm 26 weeks now)

Weight: I bought a new scale... womp womp.. Was convinced mine wasn't working because the Doctor's always says I way weigh much more than my at home one. Now both at home say the same, so I am definitely just sticking with that. up 2 pounds since my last appointment so I think that's 18 total and right on track. 
Symptoms: I have been getting sooo full so fast lately. It's really more towards the end of the day around dinner and I can never have a "real" dinner. I maybe eat 1/4 the amount that I used to. The problem is, I'm hungry! But I feel as though nothing else will fit in there and I get SO uncomfortable if I over eat even the slightest.. although this has been happening for about 3 weeks. I think (TMI) this has a lot to do with being constipated and prune juice isn't cutting it any pregnant ladies/mamas have any advice??

Clothes: I've been trying to wear dresses lately but I still feel uncomfortable if my bump isn't defined enough because I am unsure how it looks..

Sleep: I have been wanting to sleep more! Hip pain has been getting worse and by the morning, neither side is comfy to lie on. But I am still tired and sleeping really well which I am thankful for.    Cravings/Aversions: Glazed doughnut holes (which I finally allowed myself to get) Chocolate, Watermelon, and iced coffee. A while back a friend of mine would always make me an iced coffee drink and I got super addicted. I have been craving it recently so I will brew some decaff, leave it in the fridge and just have some when I feel like it. If you're interested.. It's 3/4 cup brewed coffee, 1/4 cup coffee mate coconut creamer (although I never use this much) and 1/4-1/2 of chocolate milk. I just buy the lite Hershey's syrup and mix it with whatever milk I have then stir in coffee and creamer. Seriously, it is the BEST summer iced coffee ever. 
Baby- Sweet girl is good. Always bouncing around letting me know she's happy :)    Movement: Still moving in the same patterns.. she is super active some days and not as active others. I love the days that she seems to be awake a lot and tumbling around. She will move my whole tummy but every time I try to get it on video she stops of course. She has been shying away when anyone puts their hand on my belly lately to feel her move too.    How I am feeling: I'm definitely slowing down. Really enjoying the times I get to sleep later/longer. I even took a 10 minute nap the other day which resulted in me feeling worse than before the nap but it just proves I was tired enough to fall asleep in the first place. Loving all the movement and acrobats this little girls does in my tummy all day and I can't wait to see her cute little face!

How Daddy's feeling: "I feel ready to meet the baby!"
Other Stuff: Some really good friends of ours just had a baby and it makes me want to see our little girl even more! We started a journal for her and we both try to write in it every day. Usually what Nathan writes will make me cry and I just love how much he loves her already. 

Check out my other Pregnancy related posts!   Becoming Parents 24 Week 'Bumpdate' 22 & 23 Week 'Bumpdate' 21 Week 'Bumpdate' 19 & 20 Week 'Bumpdate' 17 & 18 Week 'Bumpdate' 16 Week 'Bumpdate'  14 & 15 Week 'Bumpdate'  13 Week 'Bumpdate' 0-12 Weeks 'Bumpdate' Pregnancy Announcement   If you want to see more of the bump, let's be friends on Instagram!

Our gender reveal party

I'll just start by saying we had such a great time at our gender reveal party. We love having people over & for the first time in months I finally felt good enough to plan a party! Even more so, I actually enjoyed planning it since I was feeling much better! Pregnancy is weird like that.. Makes you never wanna do things you used to love. . Like go shopping. I was having major withdraws but didn't care because I didn't want to move from my spot on the couch ;)

I loved searching online for the perfect candies & pink and blue decor to put around. The cotton candy laffy taffys were a huge hit because they were so darn tasty.  We found our adorable invites & banners here. How cute are they? We were looking for something unique and it was pretty hard to find things I hadn't seen used before. 

For the banners I strung our ultrasound pictures and the 'Buck or Doe' banners up on some hemp string and mini clothes pins I found at Hobby lobby.

I borrowed a sweet friends chalkboards and went to town decorating them with old wives tales, boy or girl guesses, & a game we came up with for people to guess her name. 

We wrote the letters of the name (we had both boy and girl names on the board) and then marked next to it how many of each letter was in the name.

My favorite part were the poppers. This actually took a lot of planning and preparation. Thank goodness for my amazing husband and mom!! 

About 3 weeks before the party we decided we for sure wanted to use poppers as the reveal. We went back and forth on a couple ideas of just having one and playing a musical chairs sort of game but we really wanted to give one to everyone to share in the special moment. Finally I found these after a ton of google searches. We of course had to cover them up and decorate them (which I will show you in another post!) and fill with confetti. I had seen this done before but always with the cardboard ones which seemed difficult to decorate & open without ruining because they come pre-filled. 

When it came time we headed to the backyard and handed everyone a popper. Nathan gave brief instructions on how it would work. We then we counted down from 3 and then pink flew everywhere. It was so fun! Of course Nathan & I already knew so it was so fun to watch other people's reactions. A lot more people thought we were having a boy so my favorite was watching the video later and seeing everyone's expressions. The party was so much fun and I am so glad we did it! Below are all the pictures & things we did to make the party "ours." :)