Welcome Brayden!

On Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at 5 p.m., Jason and I welcomed our son Brayden Paul into the world! The whole experience was insane, crazy, and overwhelming all at the same time - I can't wait to share it with you guys! I was 40 weeks and 4 days on his arrival!

Brayden Paul - 8 pounds, 2 ounces; 21 3/4 inches long! 

He's a Mickey fan already! :)

Stay tuned for the labor and delivery story coming soon! :)

Pregnancy Update: 39 Weeks

Surprise!

Yep, I'm still here, hanging out...but I won't be much longer! :)

How many weeks are you now?
39 Weeks, 6 Days - I'll hit 40 weeks TOMORROW...FORTY!!! Who knew I would make it this far, especially with all of the craziness that went on around week 26?!

Since this is the last update, let's compare a few pictures, shall we?

Baby's size?
Watermelon (That could be any range, shape, or size...oh Lordy!) per the What to Expect app

Weight:
I gained a pound back...

Total Weight gain: 29.5 pounds overall

Symptoms:
Over the past few days, I've had more and more cramping and the pressure in my pelvis has increased (sorry if that's TMI). I'm pretty sure he's dropped  because of the added pressure and I'm making more frequent bathroom trips (although everyone at church on Sunday kept saying he was still too high...if I had a dollar for every time someone told me that, I would be rich).

EXTREME fatigue has returned this week - it's like the same fatigue I experienced in the first trimester.

I am happy to report that I was dilated to a 1 cm at yesterday's appt. I also had a contraction in her office that she observed. She also said that I'm thinning out a little which is great!  She doesn't hold out any hope that I'll go into labor on my own, so we'll see what happens. Either way, I just want the outcome to be a healthy baby and a healthy me!

I still don't have any swelling and my blood pressure has remained excellent - yay!

I'm also continuing to work at this time and plan to do so until my due date (tomorrow) or if labor begins sooner... :)

Cravings?
Snoball...and I had one on Monday night! Yum!

Aversions?   
Strong smelling foods....that mainly includes fish. :)

Sleep?
I'm still sleeping well at night for the most part although rolling out of bed to use the restroom is rather comical!

Purchases?
Amazon registry completion. I also helped my mom with the purchase of a new mattress and sheets for the baby bed at her house! I've been enjoying the local baby thrift store, too...which is always a ton of fun! :)

What I Miss:
Bending over like normal. Also wearing normal workout clothing. You don't realize how much you miss something until you've been without it for so long! It's fun being pregnant, don't get me wrong...I am just excited to be at this stage and knowing I will have my body back soon makes me happy! :)

What I'm looking forward to:
Meeting my sweet baby boy!!

My husband's family also started a pool where they are guessing Brayden's weight and birth date, so I'm excited to see who wins the game! :)

At this week's Doctor appointment, we moved a few things around because my OB will be out of town on the original induction date. Instead, I'll go in on Monday night (I'll be 40 weeks and 3 days) for cervidil, then begin induction on Tuesday morning (that's if he hasn't arrived on his own yet, but I'm still crossing my fingers I'll go into labor on my own)! It's crazy to think he will be here in less than a week, regardless!

What I'm going to miss:
Feeling him move inside of me...seriously one of the most incredible feelings in the world!  

Best moment of the week:
Hanging out with most of my girlfriends one final time before becoming a mom. I had dinner with my running buddy a few weeks ago, went to the movies on Friday night with a friend, and had pizza and snoballs with friends on Monday night. It also helped the time pass because lately, time has been draaaaaagging on by...

My exercise ball has become my best friend and I've also resumed squats/lunges. I plan to resume walking again this afternoon (if the weather cooperates)! I also purchased a box of red raspberry leaf tea and I've been drinking it on the regular. This tea is supposed to help with the labor process so we will see how that goes! :)

I want to thank each and every one of you for your words of support and encouragement throughout this entire process from our pregnancy announcement, infertility journey, running journey, and each weekly update! You'll never know how much it means to me!! :) I can't wait to introduce our sweet boy to all of you!

This could possibly be my last blog update for a little while. In the meantime, you can follow me through various social media outlets if you're interested in announcements/updates:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

Until next time, see ya real soon! :)

Pregnancy Update: 38 Weeks

How many weeks are you now?
38 Weeks, 6 Days - I'll hit 39 weeks TOMORROW...each time I write one of these updates, I wonder when it will be my last! :) There's only EIGHT days until my due date! EIGHT!

Baby's size?
Swiss Chard (that made me giggle) per the What to Expect app.
Baby measured at 7 lbs 14 oz at yesterday's growth scan. I have a feeling he's going to be somewhere in the 8 pound range...

Speaking of the growth scan, baby looks good and his fluid levels look great as well!

It's hard to believe he weighs more than my Yorkie now! (She's around 5 1/2 lbs)

Weight:
I lost two pounds this week.

Total Weight gain: 28.5 pounds overall

Symptoms:
The pregnancy brain is at an all time HIGH. I locked my keys in my car at church last night. Thank goodness for OnStar - I called and they were able to remotely unlock my car for me!! I was so relived!

Although I'm not technically dilated yet, my MD said she did feel a change and would almost call it "something". Since yesterday's check, I've been having a lot of cramping, so I guess we'll see what happens...at this point, I'm just taking it day by day!

No swelling or stretch marks as of yet!

I still haven't reached the point of..."omg I'm so uncomfortable just get this baby out of me"...which I'm SUPER thankful for as I know many people have such a rough time of it at the end. Everyone keeps asking when my last day of work will be and my response is always "my due date" (unless he decides to arrive sooner) which I feel incredibly grateful for. Of course, that comment is usually followed by "well, at least you work in a hospital" and my response is always...umm...NO! They don't deliver babies at my hospital and haven't for at least 16 years soooo no thank you! HA!

Last week, I forgot to mention my stupid hysterical episode. I've only had maybe two or three of these my entire pregnancy...where you start crying and can't figure out why you are crying and then you can't stop and you cry for like an hour? Yeah. One of the other times it happened was in Disney World...sad times. Anyway, last week's episode revolved around my not feeling good that day (my brain ran wild on me and I swore I had a blood clot in my lung...right? Stupid. I actually pulled something in my back and it went away after a few days). Anyway, we also had no food in the house and Jason had to work nights that night. I had no clue what to eat for dinner and that caused all of the hysterics. I went straight to my bedroom and cried for at least an hour. I don't even think Jason knew I was upset (if he's reading this now..well, be glad you dodged that one. Hah)!

I seriously felt like this toddler...

About the food situation? I definitely figured out what to eat for dinner...and we had it at home. I'm very grateful situations like this only happened a few times. It's the oddest feeling not having control over your own emotions. ODDEST. FEELING.

Cravings?
Still with the Cadbury Eggs and anything chocolate. Oh yes, and cold things...smoothies, milk shakes, etc.

Also, if you're familiar with my town, there's an amazing hamburger place here called Cotten's and I've been dying for a Cotten's burger. I definitely need one this weekend.

Aversions?
Nothing new other than fish!

Sleep?
Sleep is good! Still waking up occasionally to use the restroom in the middle of the night but I'm always able to fall back asleep without any problems!

Purchases?
Jason and I finished our Target registry completion on Sunday! I've also purchased a few things online here and there. Remember...I've been "bored". I told Jason to remind me in 3 weeks how bored I said I was yesterday afternoon then I second guessed myself..."no wait, don't remind me...I might want to punch you!"

What I Miss:
Running...y'all, it's bad. I even have dreams about running.

What I'm looking forward to:
Easter weekend as we have a long weekend off work - 1/2 day today followed by Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off! Yay! Also spending time with family this weekend! :)

At yesterday's MD appt, we tentatively made "plans". She's really not a fan of letting people go "over" their due date but I've been in such great shape this whole time, so she's willing to let me. If baby hasn't arrived by his due date of April Fools Day, I will be induced for his arrival on April 4, 2016. I'm ok with all of it as I do trust my Doctor. I would rather NOT have to be induced, but it's not the worst thing in the world. Like we both agreed, what's the ultimate outcome? A healthy baby and a healthy mamma...so whatever we have to do to obtain that is what we will do!

Thanks for following along! I seriously wonder each time I write one of these when it will be my last. I guess we'll see if I have an update for next week!

So, let's take a poll - any guesses on Baby Seal's birth date?

Pregnancy Update: 37 Weeks

How many weeks are you now?
37 Weeks 6 Days - I'll be 38 weeks tomorrow....which means I'm just TWO weeks away from my due date!


Baby's size?
Winter Melon per the What to Expect app. (what's that??)

Weight:
I gained two pounds this week.

Again, still no ankle/hand swelling or stretch marks so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Total Weight gain: 30.5 pounds overall

Symptoms:
So far so good in the blood pressure department...it's still on the low end and I hope it stays there! On and off throughout the last few weeks, I've had Braxton  Hicks and cramping. This week, though I woke up a couple of nights with those same sensations, only stronger. After drinking a lot of water and turning on my left side, they stopped. I so hoped that meant something was going on but after being checked yesterday, everything is still closed up tight. Oh well... 

I have no induction date at this point because I would like to see if my body will go into labor on its own. My OB is fine with that, as long as all is well with baby and my BP remains stable. Sooo, we'll see what happens!

The pregnancy brain is still at its finest. My brain can only handle one or two pieces of information at a time...and nine times out of ten, I'm more than likely to forget those, too. Checklists are my best friend and can be found in random places - the kitchen counter, the fridge, my pockets, my purse, etc.

Another symptom that popped up this week is itching! I've been generous with the lotion/body butter for sure!

Cravings?
With Spring in full force (aka Southwest Louisiana = HOT), I started craving all things cold and icy! Yesterday, I made a strawberry banana green smoothie that was oh so delicious!

Oh yes, and Cadbury eggs because...Easter. No other reason. :) Then again, does one need a reason to enjoy Cadbury eggs?


Aversions?
Sounding like a broken record here....still fish! Even the non fishy smelling fish started to bother me again.

Sleep?
I had two episodes of sleeplessness this week. I've figured out if I go to sleep too early, I wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep. However, if I wait just an hour or so later, I'm able to sleep without any problems. It's working so far...so good!

Purchases?
A few postpartum clothing items (just waiting on them to arrive so they can be washed and placed in the hospital bag). Also, I purchased another set of sheets for the baby bed.

What I Miss:
Bending over to pick something up with hurting myself.

What I'm looking forward to:
Spending our last few weekends together with Jason before baby arrives. I'll tell you, though...the last few weeks have gone by so SLOOOOOOOOW...I feel like 2 weeks is so close yet so far away with how long the days seem to drag on by here lately!

Thanks for following along! Have a marvelous weekend!

Do you have any weekend plans? If so, I'd love to hear them!

36 Week Pregnancy Update

How many weeks are you now?
36 Weeks 6 Days - I'll be 37 weeks and considered "term" tomorrow!!

Let's compare the 36 week picture to my 30 week picture, taken just six short weeks ago!

Who knew skin could stretch that much?! Ah the wonders of the human body!
 
Baby's size?
Large Cantaloupe per the What to Expect app.

Weight:
This week, the weight gain slowed down to just half a pound. I guess my body was making up for the four pounds from previous week!

Still no noticeable swelling anywhere - I even wore heels to church on Sunday! My bump is also measuring right on track.

As far as stretch marks go, I'm still in the clear and hoping to keep it that way - knock on wood...

Total Weight gain: 28.5 pounds


Symptoms:
This week, I finally started to "feel" the third trimester. I'm tired all the time and feel like I could sleep all day. My upper back (not lower but upper back) also started with this odd pain that hurts mostly when I sit. It feels muscular to me but I'm not really sure. I've tried adjusting my posture, changing chairs, etc...only a heating pad on my back helps. My MD thinks I might have strained something. Doing what? I have no clue.

Riding in a car has even become uncomfortable. Just my little 20 minute drive to work and church is no longer relaxing due to the pain in my upper back. Thank goodness for the seat warmer!

I also can't stand for long periods of time because my heart rate rises (like it's been doing since about 24 weeks or so). Soooo, I'm pretty much only comfortable when I'm laying down. Naps, anyone? I definitely don't mind! Hopefully the pain in my upper back really is just a strain and will start to feel better soon!

Also, according to my Doctor appointment yesterday, my BP remains on target and there's still no dilation at all. Oh yes, and my Strep test came back negative! Yay!

Cravings?
Nutter butter bars! A friend gave a package to me (thankfully I didn't have to purchase an entire box) and that did the trick! YUM!

Also, Cadbury cream eggs and these guys...I mean, it's almost Easter, after all!

Aversions?
Still fish but this week, the steamed veggies came back to hit me. Blech.

Sleep?
It's ok but I no longer sleep throughout the night - I wake every few hours.

Purchases?
Nothing this week, but Baby Seal's nursery is complete (stay tuned for a nursery tour - hopefully tomorrow!)

What I Miss:
Sitting down in a normal position like a normal person.

What I'm looking forward to:
Finishing up the last of my "to do" list before Baby Seal's arrival! I have to pack my hospital back and we've talked about making frozen crock pot dinners to stock up in the freezer and use after baby's arrival, so that's the plan for the weekend! After that, it's just a waiting game! :)

Best Moment of the Week:
Marking items off my to-do list - the major two were packing baby's hospital bag and finishing up the thank you notes! :)

Oh yes, and receiving our Maternity Photo Shoot pictures back! If you missed it, click here to see our favorites! :) 

That's it! Another week has come and gone and Baby Seal is still baking! :) Have a great Thursday!! Thanks so much for following along with this journey! :)

Maternity Photo Shoot

A few weeks ago, Jason and I set out for our maternity photo shoot with a good photographer friend of mine. She was one of my students in our Wednesday night church program for years and she married my brother-in-laws brother, so she's kinda like family...almost. :)

The location for these photos was honestly way out in the middle of nowhere. You know when you hit the gravel road and keep driving a few miles? Yep, that's where we were! However, we couldn't have asked for better settings, backdrops, or weather. Everything was just perfect for capturing this special time in our lives!

Today, I'm sharing a few of our favorites with you! :) 

I loved including our pups in the shoot as they truly are a part of our family. Madalynn (the cocker) was a little angel during the shoot. Pixie (the Yorkie)? Not so much...but we got the shots we set out to get!

I also wanted a photo that encompassed our entire journey...and I just so happened to have this little Hallmark keepsake at my house! Perfect!

They say if you dream a thing more than once, it's sure to come true!

Thanks so much to Katie! She did an incredible job and I absolutely love them!! :)

Any fellow maternity photography fans out there? If you've recently been pregnant, did you have maternity photos taken?

Pregnancy Update: 35 Weeks

How many weeks are you now?
35 Weeks 6 Days
 
Baby's size?
Canary Melon (what's that??) per the What to Expect app.

Weight:
Per my doctor's appointment yesterday, I gained FOUR pounds. How does one do that in a week? Well, you either go on a cruise or you get pregnant. The funny thing is, I did NOT eat like I was on a cruise...I actually didn't change anything. Just goes to show how amazing our bodies are during the process of growing a tiny human!


Despite the weight gain, I still don't have any swelling and I my bump is still measuring about a week ahead (like it has been the entire time).


Weight gain total: 28 pounds


Symptoms:
Pregnancy. Brain. Oh my gosh. It really makes me so dumb sometimes. I find myself shaking my head at myself...A LOT.

The heartburn is pretty much there no matter what, now. Doesn't matter what I eat, it will probably give me heart burn. I also can't eat near as much as I was before because my stomach is so squished (despite what the scales say, it's true).

At my doctor's appointment yesterday, I had the group B strep test and she also checked to see if anything was happening as far as dilation goes...nothing yet! She told me to keep doing what I'm doing!
 

Cravings?
Peanut butter and ritz crackers...my poor child is going to come out looking like a peanut butter cracker!

Aversions?
Fish fish fish.

Sleep?
I had two nights this week where I woke up to potty and couldn't fall back asleep for a little while. Last night was one of those nights and Brayden decided that meant it was time for him to start cutting flips! He settled down fast, though and we all fell back asleep without any problems.

Purchases?
Frames for pictures my sister-in-law is making for the baby's room. I also purchased a few things as decorative items for the baby's room.

What I Miss:
Being able to bend over and pick stuff up off the floor like normal.

What I'm looking forward to:
Putting together and sorting through everything from our surprise church shower last night (see below)...

Best Moment of the Week:
My Mpact group of sponsors and girls threw a surprise baby shower for me last night! (The kid's ages range from 4 years old through high school.) I was so overwhelmed and touched by their generosity...and Brayden is one lucky little kid!! I'll share more pictures of that tomorrow!

That's the end of another week! Happy March!! :)

Pregnancy Update: 34 Weeks

How many weeks are you now?
34 weeks, 6 days - I'm now on WEEKLY Doctor appointments! Y'all...how has the time flown by so fast?? I can't believe it's almost over!
 
Baby's size?
Pineapple per the What to Expect app.

Weight:
I gained back the pound I lost - total of 24 pounds gained so far! Right on track for the 25-35 pound weight range!


Symptoms:
This week, I really started "feeling" pregnant - I think the third trimester has finally hit me! I'm still enjoying being pregnant in general, though...and I'm no where near the stage of "get this baby out of me"! :)

Still having the occasional heartburn.

This week, my back has started to ache on a regular basis depending on how I'm sitting and the baby's position.


Really, the only way I feel 100% comfortable is when I'm lying down in my snoogle....which gives me more reasons to take naps...no problem or complaining here!

Still no ankle swelling or stretch marks and my BP has been on track this entire pregnancy! (So happy about both!)

I also received the Tdap vaccine on Tuesday afternoon. It caused arm soreness (actually, it's still sore) but no other side effects.  My doctor recommended it for me as well as anyone who will be in close contact with the baby on a regular basis...like Jason. He attempted to get one on Tuesday too, but our insurance wouldn't cover both of us in the same day (so silly), so he will have to go back and try again soon. The main reason for receiving the vaccine is to prevent the spread of whooping cough to Brayden (which can be deadly to babies).

Cravings?
Peanut Butter and Jelly has been my lunch all week! :)

Also, I really really like peanut butter ritz crackers....yummmm...must be something with the peanut butter! 

Aversions?
Broken record...still fish!

Sleep?
I find that I'm needing more hours per night although the sleep I'm getting now used to be sufficient. Even though I get a "full" night's sleep, I still wake up groggy. I'm definitely looking forward to sleeping in this weekend! I wake up every few hours to turn over but I fall right back asleep.

Purchases?
Yeah...so I shopped around at JCPenney online and couldn't help myself. They had a TON of Disney Baby stuff on clearance and although Baby Seal has a sufficient amount of smaller clothing, he doesn't have much in the larger sizes (18-24 months)....so I purchased a few things!

I also think I finally pieced together his coming home outfit! So excited!

Oh yes, and I ordered curtains for his room! I can't wait to get it all pieced together!

What I Miss:
Walking fast and being able to get somewhere in a hurry. 

What I'm looking forward to:
Sleep this weekend (hopefully)!

Best Moment of the Week:
Hands down my baby shower! My friends and family BLEW my mind with everything they put together! Baby Seal also received pretty much everything he needs to begin his start in life....we are so blessed! I can't wait to share the official pictures with you guys!!

Until next week...thanks for following along! :)

Pregnancy Update: 33 Weeks

How many weeks are you now?
33 weeks, 6 days
 
Baby's size?
Honeydew Melon per the What to Expect app.

Symptoms:
This week, baby hit a growth spurt in a big way. I felt "off" for several days and each time that happens, my bump grows noticeably bigger.

Baby Seal has also been head down since our 3D scan and now I'm feeling his hiccups up high. I also used to be able to feel something small like a foot at the top of my bump and now what I feel is much larger - either his head or his rear end.  I sure hope he hasn't flipped head up. I know there's time for him to turn around again, but that window span is growing (literally) shorter and shorter by the day.

His kicks are also growing noticeably stronger and stronger - it's funny to watch my bump move as he moves! 

The heartburn still comes and goes at times but I've learned to pinpoint the trigger foods. Thankfully, it hasn't been anything I can't live without so far! 

Still no swelling or stretch marks although I check daily for both! 





Cravings?
Cookies and Cream Hershey's Chocolate. YUM.
Also PB&J Sandwiches!

Aversions?

Same old same old - fish.

Sleep:

Sleep has been good! Still waking up once or twice per night to potty - usually just once unless I drink water way too late.

Purchases:
A baby bed mattress and the cutest Mickey Mouse shoes for our maternity pictures last weekend!

What I miss: 
Sleeping on my tummy

What I’m looking forward to:

Our baby shower this weekend! I can't wait to share the pictures with all of you!

Best Moment of the Week:  

So many fun moments took place this weekend - the baby's furniture is up, our maternity photo shoot went well, and I had an amazing maternity massage!!

Here's a sneak peek of the furniture so far:

 

I'll do a full reveal as soon as it's all together.

 

Also, I finished his hospital wreath! 

That's all for now! Another week down, six more to go! Baby Seal will be here before we know it! 

Have a great day!

Pregnancy Update: 32 Weeks

How many weeks are you now?
32 weeks, 6 days - 7 weeks left! Aaah!

Baby's size? 
Head of Lettuce per the What to Expect app.

Symptoms:
The relaxin...oh the relaxin has set in to my joints. Last weekend was rough - my hips hurt SO bad!

The heartburn returned a few times this week but nothing unbearable!

Still no swelling or stretch marks...and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way as long as possible.  My blood pressure has remained excellent all pregnancy - it was 110/62 at my appointment last week.

The symptoms of tightening and pressure I was experiencing before have eased off a lot...I'm going to ask at my next appointment if I can resume light walking. The shortness of breath is what blows my mind...I find it crazy that I ran a half marathon not that long ago and now it's hard to walk down a hallway!

Weight Gain:
Actually, I was down 1 pound this week. No one was concerned or worried, though. Total weight gain is 22 pounds. 

Cravings?
Gummy things - like fruit snacks or gummy bears.

Also cheese crackers. What. The. Heck. Hah!

Aversions?

No changes, still fish.

Sleep:

Sleep has been going well although I started waking up around 5 or 5:30 a.m. every morning to use the restroom. Other than that, I still sleep through the night and haven't had any more bouts of insomnia! YAY!

Purchases:
Nothing new this week!

What I miss: 
Cold weather training.

What I’m looking forward to:
Saturday...my dad and husband are setting up all of the nursery furniture! Can't wait! We are also taking our maternity photos on Saturday so that should be fun! Oh yes, and I put the deposit down on a photographer for his newborn photos! :)

We also have the second part of our childbirth class tonight! It should be fun...last week was interesting for sure! :) I might have cried when the video of the babies being born was shown. (Pregnancy hormones, people!)

Best Moment of the Week:  

Having a clean guest bedroom! It's a great feeling to finally have all of the furniture moved to its new home! Also, I worked on the hospital wreath a bit this week as well as the letters for his name for our maternity shoot. I'm not quite finished with them yet but it's all getting there! 

I also still love feeling him move and kick around! I've been counting his kicks and movements on a daily basis through an app called "full term" and that's been fun too! :) 

Another week down...7 to go! Baby boy will be here before we know it! I do have to add, I've really enjoyed the process of being pregnant - although I have heard some rude comments from people and have had my uncomfortable moments, it's really been an enjoyable experience overall! :)

Have a wonderful day!