99 Days To Go

It sounds like a long time to wait and a very, very short time as well. Only 99 days until our lives are going to change forever. Now, Ben and I were thinking the same thing just a year ago as we had less than two weeks until another life changing moment, our wedding. That life changing moment has been the best thing to ever happen to me. Yep, to say our lives have changed quickly since we met is an understatement. At times I'mmhit with disbelief to see how far we've gone in two years but it is always a resounding happy and satisfied disbelief. How did I get so lucky?? I don't have one regret about how we did it. Now, looking forward I am becoming more and more giddy at the prospect of meeting our baby and starting life with he or she as well. I marvel at night (when it's 4:00 am and my insomnia has gotten the best of me) that I'm laying there surrounded by my husband and child. How far life has come. I can't wait for the countdown to get closer to 1 day to go.

Over the past month and a half, we have been working on the nursery a lot. It is getting a lot closer and we are now getting to work on furniture and decorating - my favorite parts. This week we worked on the closet and Ben went to task assembling the dresser and crib. We had to work a redo on our new Elfa closet. This was the first time for both of us to have an Elfa closet installed and it is amazing! But if your measurement is off by half an inch and you can't open drawers it is not so good. Ben and I went to task on Saturday and got it all reorganized and working! Then Ben assembled our dresser and crib. I'm so glad he is handy!! We found the dresser at IKEA for a great price and my sister-in-law, Amy loaned us her crib. It is classic and perfect. Our crib bedding is also being shipped this week and I can't wait to see it. (How I love Etsy and all the amazing shops and products.) Next up is to pick out a chair, this will be our furniture expense for the nursery but I think it will be a worthy purpose - I hear we will spend a lot of time in our nursery chair. :)

I've been feeling pretty good but my IT band started really hurting yesterday after we took a short morning walk with the dogs. It's amazing how all the normal aches and pains seem to be magnified now and constantly changing. The IT band runs along the outer thigh down from your hip and usually if this hurts on me, I've been running a lot, training for a race; not taking a short Sunday morning walk to Starbucks with the husband. Nonetheless, my leg and outer hip were really sore and tight and walking really hurt so I took it easy for a few hours. Tylenol, heating pad, massage by husband, stretching and a little rest helped. I also went to another prenatal yoga class in the evening which was good for it. Hopefully, it is all worked out - I'll see today - I hate being injured and not being able to do what I want.

This week we have another doctor's appointment and I'm pretty nervous about this one. I will be taking the glucose test to see if I have gestational diabetes. I've been taking pretty good care of myself but my sweet tooth has been pretty strong (and my willpower not so much) the last month. Hopefully the fact that I've been active and getting a fairly well rounded diet will be in my favor. If I have it, hopefully it'd be a temporary thing only for the pregnancy but sometimes gestational diabetes becomes permanent which scares me. The family history of diabetes is what makes me nervous, my papa, Charlie, and cousin, Cynthia, both battled it for a long time. Dad was also diagnosed this summer and it has been life-changing for him. Dad has been an amazing example of how treatment can work, he got himself off insulin in six-months with positive changes in eating habits, slimming down and close monitoring. It hasn't been easy for him and Mom but I continue to be impressed by their dedication. No matter what the outcome is of my test this week, I know the hereditary link is lurking for Diabetes and I'll continue to work to prevent it. Hopefully though, I will have a good reading on Wednesday and won't have to worry about it for the rest of my pregnancy. Man, I hope that is the case because I'm going to need my chocolate these next 99 days. Have a great week everyone - Happy President's Day.

 

 

 

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Little Over Halfway There

This week has been pretty good. We had a doctor's visit and met one of the other doctors in the practice. No sonogram this time but we once again heard that fast, sweet little heartbeat. So cool to hear the baby loud and strong. My insomnia was MUCH better this week which is a welcome relief for me (as well as Ben). Hope that continues! I did start experiencing more intense stomach cramps around the top and bottom of the belly, apparently ligament stretching is not an enjoyable process; but it must be done. I went ahead and called the on-call nurse the first night it was bad and after speaking to her and my sister-in-law (who has experienced five pregnancies), I felt much better. A warm bath was the best advice I received from both of them. I love baths but have been out of the habit of taking them for the last few years. This week, I've had three and they have really helped. Bring on the bubble bath!

                                                  Here's what 22 weeks looks like! (Macy is by my side of course)

The other milestone this week is I've felt the baby kick a few times. I've been waiting to feel what everyone describes as flutters and it finally happened, though it still wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. I still can't describe it but I knew it wasn't a normal body gurgle or groan. I've even felt a few kicks with my hand on the outside of my stomach. I woke up Ben the night I felt the first one but I didn't wake him up quick enough and he was too sleepy to really believe me. He told me it was probably gas and rolled over. Thanks a lot sweetheart! ;) That's okay, there is no denying what I felt and it was pretty cool. I also picked up some cute booties for those little footsies. Our baby will be a dog lover, I'm pretty sure. 

Baby shoes are the cutest!

Not too much more to report with the pregnancy other than growing, growing growing! I know most of this is normal but I think I may need to get back to healthier eating. My indulgences from New Orleans seem to be continuing - dessert please and whatever is the richest thing on the menu. My goal this next week is to do better about fried foods and sweet snacks. There is a certain freedom about food right now that I don't usually let happen and am really enjoying, but... I can't go crazy for the next four months. I'm still going to cut myself lots of grace but I think remembering that the more nutrients (thus less fried food and sugar), the better for baby will help. But man, I loved the afternoon chocolate banana shake I had this week... I'll probably still need a few of those before May.

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NOLA

Last weekend we went to New Orleans for one of the best weekend trips ever. While it is not where most pregnant women go for a getaway, I can't imagine if I'd missed this weekend. One of my dearest friends, Heather, moved to the Big Easy this summer and we have been working on a reason to visit ever since. The 40th birthday celebration for another friend, Stephanie, seemed like the perfect reason to get down there. Stephanie is the girl with a million close friends that really are close friends. She is just that kinda girl. I have been so lucky to have her in my life and wouldn't have missed celebrating her for anything. It was easy to see how six couples from various parts of Steph's life wanted to celebrate with her. If everyone didn't know each other well on Friday, we all did by Sunday.

Like most who visit New Orleans, good food was a highlight of our trip - alligator cheesecake was a new discovery (thank you Jaques-Imos) and shrimp and grits never disappoint. Beignets at Cafe du Monde always, always will make me happy. The service leaves nothing to be desired and it's a definite tourist place but sometimes the tourists get it right. Our dinner on Saturday night included amazing Italian at Irene's. We also enjoyed a birthday King Cake for Stephanie that included not one but two lucky babies. Stephanie and her brother got the babies so these new cousins enjoyed lots of strange pictures of family bonding as the night went on.

We also hit Bourbon Street both nights for our birthday girl, which is when I discovered that I still want to dance to hiphop but the belly will eventually rebel. No hurricanes or hand grenades for me but I made it 'til after midnight both nights so I think I earned a stripe or two. The little lima bean really let me know what it thought about my curfew breaking. I had a rash all over my stomach and chest on Friday night when we got back to the hotel and then my belly button decided to start disappearing on me. It hasn't popped out yet but it looks like it's moving that direction.

Ben and I love New Orleans as it was the first place we traveled together. He says I was testing him out two years ago to make sure he could travel well, I don't know if that is what I was truly thinking when we visited; but I know our first trip there helped me fall completely in love with him. Now I know I could travel anywhere with him and be as happy as possible. It was really was fun to revisit our first destination two years further down the road together. So glad Stephanie had us along for her birthday celebration… we are awaiting an invitation to her 50th in NOLA!




Starting the night off with a birthday toast

Arriving in style thanks to Brian




The birthday girl found her groove

Listening to kaoroke at Cat's Meow






Afternoon sugar high

Happiness

Bourbon St.

I miss this girl!





The whole gang!



Ben's Cioppino at Irene's

 

The two preggos and a few bombers

Irene came out to say happy birthday







Time for Birthday King Cake



One of the new Bolton babies

The other Bolton baby - the night took a strange twist about now






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On The Run, errr, Walk

Last week I had a new discovery, my growing stomach and expanding abs no longer enjoy running; at all. Ben and I went to the gym one night to do some cardio on the machines. The treadmill is not my favorite way to run but when it's cold and dark, it works. It only took about five minutes for me to get a stitch right below my stomach. I switched over to walking of course but kept hoping if I tried a running pace again it would kinda settle in like a side stitch does, but after a few more times, I admitted defeat.

Two nights later, Ben and I went to boot camp and we did two warmup laps which I ran at the slowest 'this is a jog but not a walk' pace. Still the stomach pressure returned and my protective husband spoke up quickly in protest. I gave in to the walk. I'm only half way through my pregnancy so I didn't expect to hit this wall so soon. What about other friends who are in shape and ran until the end of their pregnancy? I thought that was going to be me. It's hard to accept because while I'm certainly not a badass, I'm okay with working out through some pain and kinda like and expect it sometimes. The sweatier I am at the end, usually makes me feel that much more accomplished. But now, it's not just me on this ride of fitness willpower, I have someone more important along with me who is calling the shots for my body. So I guess I'm (WE) are converted walkers. Good news, I can still exercise with lots of modifications at boot camp and prenatal yoga, thank goodness.

I made one more discovery lately, now 3:30 is my new wake-up time; my tiny bladder and insomnia brain don't even require an alarm clock thank you very much. I've had issues with sleeplessness in the middle of the night for several years, I wake up and then just feel wired with my to-do list running through my head. This is especially true at the first of a a school year or any time that work is crazy. I hate to get in a rut of taking Tylenol PM but a day or two of this sidekick usually does the trick. Obviously, that is no longer in my bag of tricks. So now, I'm here awake at 4:30 a.m. wishing I could just go ahead and head to work to get started so I'm not there way late today.

 

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Ready for Little Feet to Start Kicking

Well here we are almost halfway through the pregancy. I think I've officially popped. Yes, I know I'll get bigger but right now it is hard for Ben and I to imagine it being possible. I feel great but am noticing the subtle differences that happen when I lean over for something or get up from a deep seat. Guess there will be more of that to come! 

 

 

 

I never knew I thought grainy black and white photos (aka Sonograms) could look so special. Guess that is another thing you learn when you are pregnant. We went for our third sonogram this week and this one was considered a big one because I'm halfway through the pregnancy. We have been going to a specialist for our sonograms because we did genetic testing in November. We decided to have the genetic testing since we know risks increase due to my age and we wanted to be prepared if our baby was going to need extra support. It was stressful just imagnining all the things that could already be creating problems but I'm glad we went throught the process. It involved a sonogram and blood test and then several days of waiting but all of the results were very positive!! Now we are continuing to go to the specialist because I think my doctor refers most of her patients there as a precaution - and I am 'advanced maternal age' even though no one comes out and says that part!

For this sonogram, lots of measurements and calculations were taken and thankfully everything with our baby looks on track. Brain, spine and organ development all looked good. I've also been trying to patiently wait to feel a kick or two. I read several weeks ago that it could happen between 16-22 weeks so of course I wanted it to happen at 16 weeks. When it didn't happen week 16, 17, or 18, I couldn't help being worried. On a different doctor's visit last week we heard the heartbeat which made me feel much better. The sonogram was also great reinforcement that the baby is still safe and healthy.  Basically, I learned due to where the baby and placenta are positioned, I will just have to be a patient patient until week 22 probably before I feel those little feet kicking. Until then, I'll have to be satisfied with a photo of the cute feet.

 

This was also the sonogram where we could find out the gender... but we've decided to wait, so we did not learn the BIG news. It is really strange to know our doctor and the sonogram tech know the sex even though we don't but I can't wait for Ben to tell me at delivery. I just can't imagine how happy we both will be. So for now, we will keep calling the baby our bean, even though weighing in at 9 ounces he/she is no longer much of a bean! Here are some of my favorites from the 19 week sonogram.

 

 

Here are those little adorable feet!

 

This week I made one more visit to the hospital maternity ward to visit my friends, Lynsey and Taunya, and meet their new little boy, Trac. Lynsey and I work together and it has been really nice having someone else pregnant nearby to share concerns and experiences. I was so happy to see momma and baby doing great even after Trac made an early surprise appearance. Congrats to Lynsey and Taunya! I'm looking forward to lots of future play dates with my little ones future classmate.

 

Last thing, to follow up from my last post, I did make dinner for Ben last night. Well before I go any further, it wasn't I that made dinner, we made dinner but that's way more fun than making it all alone anyways. I did pick out the recipe and go to the grocery store (so I get a few points) and then we made our feast together. We made a salad and chicken with tomatoes and basil over linguine. Delicious!

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Yoga Momma

I went to my first prenatal yoga class tonight and it rocked. I haven't been to yoga in over a year, since Ben and I quit the sweaty, dripping wet, steamy, boiling hot version known as Bikram. As much of an event as Bikram was, I really liked it but we wanted something that dialed it back a notch or two and meant to try another studio and just never did. Well, now I've been saying for two months that I was going to go to prenatal yoga and finally with the belly starting to pop and some time off, I did it.
Tonight's class was the first time I've been in a room full of other pregnant women and that alone felt pretty cool. (I know there were times when I was single and hoping for love, family and a baby that it felt like I was in a room full of pregnant women but I think this was the first time it actually happened.) We started the class by going around and introducing ourselves and sharing a little about our pregnancy. There were about twenty of us and I really liked hearing all the different stages and concerns. Then we got started with a pretty typical yoga class, it just moved much slower. Lots of leg and hip stretches and no one was breaking a sweat going through a long flow series or launching into crow. Felt about my speed these days!
I liked our teacher a lot and loved two of her lines: "The only cure for pregnancy is delivery" and "whatever you do in yoga, don't smush the baby!" I plan on making this class part of my routine. Meanwhile, my sweet husband picked up dinner for us while I was in class. He's starting to make me look bad, I've been off work for two weeks and haven't cooked him dinner yet. Guess I know what I'm doing tomorrow night!

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