b.o.b. bump @ 40 weeks

I have been telling this girl all day to come out and play!  It's suppose to be your birthday!  Don't think it's working...oh well!!! I mean who would want to leave a place where you are warm, food is fed straight to you, and you don't have to do anything but sit around and grow!

We are ready though!  Over the past week I have made and frozen three soups.  I have one in the Crock Pot now.  We have cleaned, laundered, and organized all that we need to at this point.  Bags are basically packed, minus our toiletry items that we will do last minute.  So yeah, all we need is a baby to arrive!

Tomorrow will be my last day of work, unless something miraculous happens over night and this lil' gal decides to greet us.  I will miss the kiddos, but I am so excited to have 12 weeks off from work.  This will put me going back to work for about a week before winter break begins.  Then I will have two more wonderful weeks to spend with the little one! 

I have been trying some of the suggested natural ways to induce labor, but of course I know she is going to come when she is ready.  I have been walking every evening over the past three days and will continue to do so.  I have ate spaghetti and pineapple.  Next to try, bouncing on the yoga ball.  I will give anything a shot at this point.  Although I feel like it will be coming soon.  I have noticed that the Braxton Hicks contractions are more prominent and there have been some pains that have been occurring over the past week and a half in between my pubic bone and thigh.  Hopefully some stretching of the muscles and a sure sign that labor will be very soon!!!

Well I will keep everyone updated as to when our lil' Miss decides to join us!

b.o.b. bump @ 39 weeks

Well, I have reached the "stick a fork in me, I'm done" mentality!

I shouldn't be complaining, especially with how easy this whole pregnancy has been.  But we just want to meet this gal and hold her in our arms.  I really want Mike to be able to hold her and bond.  I feel like as the mom, I have carried her around for the past nine months and been able to bond with her in a way that no one else will ever be able to do.  I know Mike is going to be a great dad and I just can't wait to see him with his little girl!!!

Today I had my 39 week appointment.  Everything is still going smoothly.  Heartbeat was 150, head still down and still measuring correctly.  I love how the doctor told me I am all baby!  Makes me feel good about my progress.  Up to this point I have not had an internal exams because I feel what's the point of knowing how dilated I am or how effaced my cervix is.  This lil' Miss is going to make her appearance when she wants to and no doctor's rough estimates are worth it to me.  I am doing this like they did for hundreds of years and playing the waiting game. 

So here we are playing the waiting game.

Chambers House Photo Update

We have been doing quite a bit to get prepared for our lil' one's arrival!  Here are some photos of our progress!


Nursery/Guest Bedroom

I am sure this extra bed will be used by us quite often :)

 Crib

 Dresser my parents bought at an auction when I was a child.  I remember using it for my baby dolls.  Never imagined I would use it for my own child.  Rocking chair was mine as a child.  

 Sea turtle artwork has yet to be hung.  They were made by Mike's dad.  The white shoes were my mom's as a baby.  Real leather, made in Italy.

 I already know what you are thinking....a TV?!?!  And yes we still need to cover the wires with a guard because I know the little one will be grabbing at it.

I don't think she has enough clothes.  And there are more in the dresser. Yikes!

Newly Remodeled Bathroom

We completely had the bathroom remodeled except for the tub/shower.  My step-dads crew did a wonderful job!  We are loving it!

 New vanity, light fixture, medicine cabinet, hardware.

 New toilet, linoleum, shelf with baskets.

 Walls and doors painted.

 New tile board and trim.

We also had new wiring run, new plumbing installed and a moisture control fan placed in the ceiling.

Preparation for the hospital

Mama Bear, Papa Bear, and Baby Bear's bags are packed, along with a car seat ready to go!

b.o.b. bump @ 38 weeks

Two weeks left (maybe)!  Everything has continued to progress smoothly!

We had an appointment today.  Talked with the doc about our birth plan.  Still a few things I am debating, but I am getting good information from reliable resources.  So, I should be making an informed decision soon. 

School has been going well.  If we just could get some air-conditioning in the school!  My first long-term sub has been with me since the first workday.  This has been so helpful and I couldn't ask for a better person to take over when I have to be out.  I am quite exhausted by the end of the day.  This has led to me taking only one walk in the past week.  Oh well, I figure I have done well enough with exercising for the majority of the pregnancy!

Also since the weight gain has been minimal, 23 pounds thank you very much, I have decided to indulge in cookies and ice cream as often as I wish!  What's a few extra pounds at this point anyways :)  I will also be indulging in Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks almost daily with their debut on Friday!!!  There is no doubt that this child will have a sweet tooth!

b.o.b. bump @ 37 weeks

Last Friday I was given a shower by the school.  And man were we showered!  We received many gift cards to Target and Wal-Mart, which will really be useful.  Another gift certificate was given to us for a photography studio that we will have her newborn pictures taken at.  We also were given some outfits.  One of which that was picked out by the assistant principal's son.  He is one of my students too!  We decided that would be the going home outfit.  :)

This week began with a trip to the doctor's office.  We got to meet the new OB and he seems very nice.  So we have now met every midwife and OB at the office.  Everything continues to measure correctly, baby's heartbeat was a strong 135, and I continue to feel excellent.  After that appointment we went to the Birthplace to do our preregistration.  Which wasn't as painful as I thought it might be.  Just some paperwork that I could see being a pain if you were in labor.

That night we watched a video called Orgasmic Birth.  Wow!!! What an eye opener.  At the beginning of the pregnancy I was really set on having a home birth and now I know that is what we will do when we decide to have another child.  Mike even looked at me during one point in the movie and said, "Should we go ahead and just have her at home?"  Well the logistics of putting that together this far in the game seem a little too overwhelming.  But it made me feel wonderful to see that Mike was understanding why I have longed for such an experience.  I am excited that even though we will not have a home birth experience this time, we have a doula!!!  We absolutely adore her and know that she will help us in achieving the birth experience that we want to have in a hospital.  It just blows my mind how we have been brainwashed by the medical professionals to believe that we have to have babies in a hospital. Especially here in the United States.  I have also been reading quite a few books that are good reads.  Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and The Doula's Guide to Birth. These books are also very good eye openers about what birthing is really about. I want everyone to know that I have been set on a natural birth from the beginning and I plan on sticking to that and for so many reasons.  And yes I understand that some people may not feel the same way as I do.  That's your choice. I think we have to be educated about what we do with our bodies.

OK, now that I went on my little rant.....

Tuesday was the first day that students in PK, K, 6th, and 9th grades attended school.  So the rest of us teachers had another day to get prepared.  I have been very blessed because the sub I have for the first six weeks I am out, has been coming in everyday to help get the classroom ready and get to know my routine.  Today my students came and I must say we had an excellent day.  I have the same students that I taught last year for first grade.  It gave me a feeling of peacefulness to know that I could get the year started and not have to really introduce everything again.  The students know how I run the classroom and they all were excellent today! They were very good listeners and seemed happy to be back in the classroom.  I was exhausted at the end of the day.  Actually it was more like 1:00 when the little kiddos went home.  I came home at 4:00 to take a little rest.  I have never been a nap person, but being able to just lay down for an hour seemed to give me a little more energy. 

I have been having a lot of people lately tell me that I look like I have dropped.  I guess that is all in the eyes of the beholder because I feel like I have been low the whole time.  Who knows?  Only time will tell when this little munchkin decides to make an appearance!  

We can't wait to meet our lil' Miss, but I keep reminding her that another 3 weeks would be good!

b.o.b. bump @ 36 weeks

One month to go!

We have been busy around our house.  The remodel of the bathroom began last Friday.  Mike's mom came up to help me do some cleaning around the house on Saturday.  Another baby shower was held for us by our great friend Brittany, who will also be watching our lil' Miss once I return to work.  And I went back to work on Monday.  I feel as though things are going to get really busy from this point on, now that work is back in session.  We are looking forward to these four weeks passing by quickly because we are so ready to meet b.o.b.  I have a prenatal checkup tomorrow and will continue to go once a week from this point until birth-day. 

Continuing to feel great, except for those darn hiccups!  She has had them three times today!!!

b.o.b. bump @ 35 weeks

As we inch closer and closer I am feeling quite comfortable still!  This past week was kind of a down week, as I didn't want to get too crazy with the up and coming beginning of school days.

I went and picked another 7lbs of blueberries to freeze.  I still don't think I have quite enough.  Another trip will be in the future...possibly this weekend. 

I wrote some more thank-you cards for the many gifts we have received.  We are so wonderfully blessed to have such loving family and friends to support us.  We pretty much have everything that we think we need.  Only the future will tell.

I began filling out the memory book for our lil' Miss.  Hopefully I will keep up with this.  

I completed washing more clothes, blankets, and sheets.  We received the new cushion for the glider rocker in the mail and I must say it looks lovely.  I love that we have gone with a neutral look in b.o.b.'s room.  I am not big on themes.  Pictures to come very soon.....just waiting to get the artwork (made by family) up on the walls.

On Monday I went to the school to work on my classroom a bit.  Three hours was about all I could handle.  It won't be long and I will have to be there for 7 hours a day, so why push it now.  I got some cleaning done. Massive amounts of dust were everywhere.  I also unpacked books to put on the shelves of the classroom library.

We worked on our birth plan over the past couple of days and I feel quite happy with it.  Positive thoughts that all will go well!

I set up our appointment for preregistration at the hospital.   Then I called to check at the police department when they do the car seat checks.  Installing the car seat is on the list to do within the next week.  I don't think you can be too early on this one.
 
Mike and I went to Lowe's tonight to pick out the items we need for our bathroom remodel.  This will be taking place within the next couple of days.  My step-dad's company is going to be completing the project for us.  I am so excited to have a bathroom that doesn't look like it is out of the 1970's (maybe even older) and to fix some of the current problems we have in there.  

Here is to the enjoyment of my last days of summer vacation!  I will surely miss you, but I am now looking forward to the 12 weeks I will have off when our lil' Miss arrives!!!! Those weeks will surely be better than any summer vacation :)

My Top 3

As the pregnancy is drawing to a close there are some things I will miss and things I am really looking forward to. 

I am really going to miss the following:

1.  The movement of our lil' Miss inside me.  This is something that brings me joy everyday!  It will be very weird to all of a sudden not have that feeling anymore.

2.  The compliments I receive.  I have had such a wonderful pregnancy and everyone has been so kind.  I will miss hearing "you have the pregnancy glow."

3.  The ability to eat "for two."  Although I have done quite well with not over induldging.  It has been nice to eat a meal and not worry about the stomach being bloated because guess what?  It already is!

I am most looking forward to:

1.  Drinking caffeinated coffee.  I have stuck to the decaf during this pregnancy just because I wanted to do what I felt my child deserved.  Although I won't be able to go crazy with it right after her birth because of nursing.  However, I will be requesting a Pumpkin Spice Latte ASAP after I pop her out!

2.  Beer.  What I wouldn't give for a Red Stripe Light in my hand right now!  Summer is a time when you just want to grill out with friends and enjoy a cold one.  It was pretty easy for me to give it up, but I sure do miss it.

3.  Running.  I began running about a year and a half ago.  I thoroughly enjoy it.  I ran at the beginning of the pregnancy but had to lay off it about halfway through because of the need to pee during a run.  I can't wait to lace up my running shoes as soon as I am cleared.  The best part will be that I get to bring our lil' Miss with me in her sweet B.O.B. jogging stroller!!!

b.o.b. bump @ 34 weeks

Not too much to report this week.  Everything continues to progress smoothly! 

We had our 34 week checkup today.  All signs still point to a healthy lil' girl.  We met with our doula this evening and talked about birthing positions, our birth plan, and some good ol' chit-chat!

I continue to stay active.  I even picked 7lbs of blueberries last Friday.  I plan to head back this coming weekend and pick more to stock up the freezer.  Mike and I were able to take a walk by the river this morning. 

I have been dealing with some sinus "stuff" over the past few days.  The scratchy throat, head pressure, and constant sneezing/nasal drainage.  Not my idea of fun at this point, but I am very thankful that I haven't been sick at all during the pregnancy. 

And now I am off to bed.  I have returned to the nights of early to bed!  I won't complain because I love my bed and will enjoy it while I still can! :)

b.o.b. bump @ 33 weeks

Can someone slow down the time?!?!?! Summer is quickly coming to an end and the timer for this bun in the oven will be going off very soon!!!

Today actually marks 33 weeks and 3 days of baby baking progress!  Last Friday I had a two week checkup.  Mom went with me because we went out of town afterwards.  Everything was wonderful!  I was measuring correctly, heart beat was 143, and she is head down.  I talk to b.o.b. daily and remind her to stay head down! I was able to ask questions about the actual labor, like how many people are allowed in the delivery room.  The answer-18!  I don't think I will be having that many.  Actually at this point I know I will have for sure Mike and our doula.  I am a pretty independent gal and like to do things on my own, so I may or may not have anyone else.  Only time will tell. My other positive note was my weight gain-1 pound in two weeks.  So far I have only gained 18lbs which keeps me right on track with where I should be! 
Mom and I then went to Fredericksburg to visit my Nona (grandmother), uncle and aunt, and cousins.  We picked up a glider rocker that belongs to my uncle and aunt.  It was used when my cousins were babies.  So it's nice to be able to borrow something that is in the family.  I look forward to the times when I will get to use it with our lil' Miss!  We enjoyed great vegan food while visiting with the family.  Every time I am there they inspire me to make more health conscious choices.  If only I could hire a chef and I would become vegan in a heartbeat.  There are so many great alternatives in the market today!

Mike and I got some great recommendations of pediatricians from friends.  I think we will try talking to a few in the next couple of weeks before I have to go back to work.  One big topic that is on our mind is vaccinations!  Did you know that newborns receive a shot on the day of their birth?!?!?!  We are all for vaccinations, but not the exact schedule that is given these days.  So this will be something we continue to discuss more in detail. 

We have scheduled our next doula meeting for next Tuesday.  Our topic of discussion is going to be our birth plan.  I have already been thinking about what I do and don't want to take place.  Of course I do  know that this is just a plan and that things may not go as "planned." I am optimistic though and hope that we will be able to follow the plan that we put in place.

Summer school has come to an end and I have two weeks left of summer vaycay!  I have already accomplished washing the blankets, sheets, towels, and 0-3 month clothing for our little gal.  A house cleaning party will be in the works for one day.  If you want to join just let me know!!!  I plan on staying active and getting things accomplished.  But I am sure some down time will be squeezed in too :)

BTW have I mentioned this gal has hiccups at least twice a day?!?!  I love feeling her move around, but hiccups are by far my least favorite movement.  I guess it is the repetitiveness of them.  I have been reading that this could be a sign of how often she will have them post-womb.  At least they don't bother her like they do when we have hiccups.

So this pic is more like 33 1/2 weeks!

b.o.b. bump @ 32 weeks

The past week has been quite busy.  I worked summer school from 8-2 each day.  Then on Thursday afternoon I went to White Rocks Campground for the Chamber's Family Reunion.  Mike had already gone up on Wednesday.  We enjoyed great food and catching up with relatives.  On Saturday before the big dinner, Brittany Lambert (who will watch our lil' Miss when I go back to work) threw a "mountain shower" for myself and another cousin, Jamee. I am so excited that Jamee is expecting in January.  It will be wonderful to have another generation running around together on the mountain.  We were showered with a plethera of items and a real rain shower.  Yes, half of the time I was on the mountain it rained, but that is to be expected. Overall it was a blast! 

So at this point in the pregnancy I am getting constantly asked what we are having and then the next question is "Do you have a name picked out?"  Yes, we do have a finalized name, but sorry we are not sharing.  A few close friends and family members do know.  Everyone else I am sorry but you will have to wait till her arrival come mid-September!

I am starting to get a little anxiety about the remaining things we need to accomplish before her arrival.  I know it will get done, but when I say there are 8 weeks/2 months left I become a little distraught.  That time is going to be gone in the blink of an eye.  Ahhhhhh!  We are so anxious for her arrival, but if she wants to bake a little longer I will have not problem with that!

8 weeks to go......

b.o.b. bump @ 31 weeks

Golly day....only 9 weeks to go!

I started teaching summer school on Monday.  It has been going well aside from the unorganized beginning.  It's nice to be around fellow colleagues and enjoy some socialization with adults.

I will be heading off to the 93rd Chambers family reunion tomorrow.  It is a wonderful time!  We camp up at White Rocks in Giles County.  The big meal is always on the Saturday before the third Sunday in July.  As I prepare for this year's reunion I am already thinking about next year and how we will have our little girl joining us!!!  And I think about all the extra stuff we will bring on top of the many boxes and items we already take.  But it is going to be so worth it!  I am glad she will get to be a part of this great tradition.  I think we will also be having a Wills family reunion, so she will be meeting lots of family next summer :)

I had to take this pic on my own, so here is the best I could do......

b.o.b. bump @ 30 weeks

It's hard to believe I am 3/4 of the way through this pregnancy!  So I think it is close enough that I am officially beginning a countdown...which in a way is kind of mind blowing!  This only means I need to get my tooshie in high gear to get some remaining tasks complete!

So the list begins....
1.  Complete paperwork for maternity leave
2.  Find a pediatrician
3.  Finalize nursery (artwork to hang, finish organizing, etc.)
4.  Take a birthing class-we have decided to take a private class with a doula-in-training rather than the hospital classes
5.  Wash all the linens, clothes, and cloth diapers (Yes! I am going to try them) for our little one's arrival
6.  Install the car seat
7.  Begin working on our birth plan
And I am sure I will be adding to this list as the days continue to become ever so closer to birth-day!  Aaaahhh!

On a super happy note I just returned from what I am pretty sure is my last beach visit till after our lil' Miss arrives.  I took a trip to Oak Island, NC with my mom and step-dad last Thursday and returned today.  It was an amazing time.  Sun, fun, and just a relaxing time overall.  I got my fill of seafood which consisted of shrimp, oysters, and clams each day.  Visits were made to the neighboring town of Southport for 4th of July events.  Shopping took place, which mainly was for the nursery.  I found a night light and some artwork that will go perfectly in the space (pictures soon to come).  I was sad to leave today, but know that the next time I return will be even more eventful and exciting because our little girl will be joining us!!!!

So tomorrow is July 4th!  My absolute favorite holiday and it is also our 3rd wedding anniversary!  I must say that a girl couldn't be any happier :)    I am married to an amazing man who is going to be an absolutely magnificent father!

So here is to 10 weeks remaining and the celebration of our family-to-be!!!

b.o.b. bump @ 29 weeks

Another week down! 

This past weekend was the first of a few baby showers that I will be given.  It was held at Mike's parent's house.  It was a wonderful day!  I got to see lots of family and friends.  And our lil' Miss was showered with oh so many things.  We are so grateful for all of the love and support that surrounds us!  :)

I have my first workday for summer school tomorrow.  Although I have been enjoying my time off, it will be nice to have a little routine for a few weeks.  This way I won't waste my days away or go out and shop for things I really don't need!

Here we are....11 weeks to go!

b.o.b. bump @ 28 weeks

We are in the final stretch!  The third trimester! When I think back to the beginning of this pregnancy it seems like it went so slow, but now the time is just whizzing past us.

This post is a little delayed (by two days) as I have just been too busy to get a picture.  Tuesday was spent enjoying the day with Mike and then yesterday was spent doing errands and cleaning.  Oh and that lovely glucose test.  Which actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I think the worst part was having two nurses draw blood from me that did a terrible job at sticking me nicely.

We also met with out doula yesterday evening.  It was our first official meeting.  She brought us some information to read and then we just chatted.  This was nice because I think it is important that we feel comfortable with her.  I mean she is going to be a part of one of the biggest events in our lives!

In other big news, Mike got a new position at work.  He will no longer be the co-manager of the 84 store, but will work in a sales position.  This means no more working on weekends or getting home at 7:00 in the evening.  I am super excited about this because once our lil' Miss arrives it is going to be so important that we have time together as a family!!!!   :)

Well here I am, the beginning of the third trimester!

b.o.b. bump @ 27 weeks

My first week off from school has been wonderful!  I have been able to rest up, although sleeping in has been kind of hard.  I am beginning to experience some back pain in bed.  I think it is due to me rolling over on to my back.  Other than that, everything is still going well with our lil' Miss.

We had a prenatal checkup yesterday.  All signs still point to a healthy baby girl!  Her heartbeat was around 145.  I measured in at 27 centimeters.  And the best part was I had only gained 2 lbs since the last visit.  I am very proud of my weight gain thus far.  I am right on track for staying in the "normal range."  I try to maintain healthy eating habits, although I don't deny myself of a sweet or two if I am in the mood.  I have also continued to walk about 2 miles most every day.  I gave up on running at around 18-20 weeks because it was almost uncomfortable for me.  I drink a lot of water during the day.  So when it would come time for a run, about halfway through I needed to make a potty break.  I think the pressure on my bladder just got to me.  But running is not going to be a thing of the past.  I will definitely be back on track once cleared after the birth of our lovely lady!

Today was a really great day too!  We met with our birth doula.  Mike came along and I think this meeting really helped him to understand the role of a doula.  We really took to her.  She has a great personality and I think she will make a great addition to our birth experience.  After our meeting we got lunch at the famous Dude's drive-in.  A grilled cheese with tomato for me, thank you very much!  And then we ended our day with a tubing trip down the river! 

Summer break..I LOVE YOU!

I decided to bare the belly for this week's pic.

b.o.b. bump @ 26 weeks

As you can see I skipped last week's picture.  I was just too busy wrapping up the last week of school and really tired.  Today marked my last work day and my summer has officially started!

Our Lil' Miss has been on the move as usual!  She was supper active this morning...I think it may have been hiccups.  It's hard to believe she is around 9inches (14inches head to toe) and almost 2lbs.  Her vegetable comparison is currently an eggplant.  This week her eyelids will begin to open and close as they have been fused together previous to this time, she will begin practicing breathing by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, and her brain is taking on a large growth spurt which will consume 50% of her energy.  Some scientists suggest that she may even begin to recognize our voice.  I am sure she may be sick of hearing us by the time she is born because we talk to her all the time.

I have accomplished some of my To-Do list.  I organized the attic this past Sunday.  I cleaned out boxes.  Made a pile of stuff to try to sell or take to Goodwill.  I even labeled all of our boxes.  I need organization completed before b.o.b. gets here because we will only accumulate more items to store in the attic.  I also contacted a Doula that we are going to speak with next week.  I am very excited about this because we have decided to have our birth at the hospital, so the next thing that I did want was to at least have a Doula. 

Well here I am, all smiles for the beginning of a great summer!

b.o.b. bump @ 24 weeks

Can we just slow down time....no wait let's finish off the school year first!

Today was a glorious day, as I had taken a "sick day" to play hookie from school.  Very rarely do I get a day with Mike to just go out and have "us" time.  And I know that once our Lil' Miss gets here, those days will be very few and far between.

So Mike and I took a drive to Paint Bank, VA to eat at The Swinging Bridge restaurant.  It's literally a little town that is made up three buildings, but it's very charming with it's nostalgic country atmosphere.  We then traveled the back country roads to White Rocks Campground in Giles County.  This is the site of the annual Chambers reunion in July.  We found that they had made improvements to the campsites, but were not really able to walk around because the rain began by this time.  Then as we left the campground we stopped at another site in the National Forest called Glen Alton.  We both said how we always drove by the sign and never stopped, but boy were we glad we did.  It was a wonderful outdoor space with so much to see.  We will definitely be visiting again for a day trip.  Our day was so wonderful I wish it didn't have to end! 

Now for the end of the school year!  Only 7 days remain + 2 teacher workdays.  Then I can begin getting myself ready for the arrival of our dear little one.  My top three June projects are already calling my name, they include: 1) Cleaning up the attic 2) Cleaning this house of it's "junk" 3) Hiring a Doula for the birth.  Summer Break you are only days away!

 b.o.b. bump at The Swinging Bridge

b.o.b. bump @ 23 weeks

Today was a great day!  I celebrated my 29th birthday with friends and family.  I was given two cakes at school and then had another cake at mom's for dinner.  I think our little girl enjoyed the sweets, although I was quite surprised she was not more active due to the high intake of sugar (3 pieces of cake total today).  I am thankful this year for the wonderful support I have been surrounded with by friends and family.  I have been blessed with the wonderful years that have led me to this point in my life!  I am ready for the more exciting years to come that we will get to share with our daughter.  However, check with me again next year at this time when I will be turning 30 :-o

b.o.b. bump @ 22 weeks

This posting is a little delayed, but the coming to the end of the school year brings on a whole new kind of tired.  Tuesday, May 8 marked the 22 weeks point.  All continues to go wonderfully on the pregnancy front. 

We had a routine checkup on Thursday.  The baby's heartbeat was around 140 bpm.  She was an active little one during the checkup too!  I think we have a future gymnast on our hands, as she had been active over the past week from sunrise to sunset.  Oh my, what does she have in store for us post-womb?!?!

Here I am at 22 weeks and there is no hiding the fact that there is a bump under this shirt.  I have come to really enjoy the comments that I receive :)

b.o.b. bump @ 21 weeks

We are officially over the hump now!  Things are continuing to progress smoothly.  If I could just time warp to Summer Break I would be all set.  Not too much longer, only 22 school days.  But who's counting?!?!

It's a girl!

Last Friday was our 20-week ultrasound appointment.  It was an early one too.  We headed to the hospital at 6:45 that morning.  My mom met us to join in on the viewing.  We were escorted to the room by one of the nurses and waited patiently for the Ultrasound Technician to arrive.  He was very pleasant and informed us that he would be doing a DVD of the ultrasound and providing us with pictures.

Before the appointment Mike and I had been discussing whether or not to find out the gender.  I personally did not want to know the gender for the surprise factor and I am pretty old school when it comes to this stuff.  I mean people surely didn't know what they were having 30 years ago.  But after hearing Mike's reasons to know...ease of mind and preparation....I decided I would go along with finding out the gender.  Well let me tell you, whether or not I wanted to know, within 5 minutes of the ultrasound we could tell what b.o.b. "was".  The ultrasound tech. didn't even have to point it out.  It was so obvious.  So unless I had planned on not watching a majority of the ultrasound, we were bound to find out.

Needless to say we were excited to find out that we will be having a daughter!!!  We also were happy to see the four chambers of the heart, the liver, stomach, kidneys, brain, the spine (one of my favorites), and the 4D pictures.  It was amazing to see our little girl moving around, which she did a lot of towards the end of the visit.  All signs point to a healthy baby girl weighing in at 14 ounces right now.

Talk about moving around.  Ever since I felt her move last Monday, I am aware of every time she begins to dance.  Mike was talking about how he wanted to feel her and I let him know that it would probably be a few more weeks because of how small she still is.  However on Saturday morning before Mike left for work, she was moving around like crazy.  I called him over to place his hand on my belly to see if she might make a move for him.  What do you know, that girl gave a good "pop"!  Mike's eyes and face were amazed.  It was like she knew he was there because she didn't move after that.  I am so happy that he was able to feel her.  He is already in love with his little girl.  She will definitely be a "Daddy's girl".

Hello!

Pretty girl!

My personal favorite-her butt!

b.o.b. bump @ 20 weeks

The halfway point is here!  Time flies when you are having fun!  I must admit that this pregnancy has been nothing but amazing for me.  I have felt wonderful and I am enjoying all the new changes (both with my body and lifestyle) that I have encountered.

On another great note, I felt the movements of b.o.b. for the first time on Monday morning.  I had awoke around 3 a.m. for one of my many potty breaks and had a difficult time falling back asleep.  So while laying in the bed I felt something in my belly that reminded me of "popcorn popping."  It happened a couple of times and I just knew it was b.o.b.  I was overcome with happiness and needless to say falling back asleep became even more difficult.  So now every time I feel that "popping"  I know it's b.o.b. making sure s/he is known. :)

Another dose of the beach!

On Wednesday evening, Mike, his parents & brother, and myself made another visit to Oak Island.  What a wonderful trip it was.  Thursday's weather was a bit overcast, but Friday and Saturday turned out to be spectacular days.  We enjoyed the time spent together at such a wonderful location. 

 

b.o.b. making it's second appearance at the beach!

b.o.b. bump @ 19 weeks

Wow!  What a day.  I literally did not get home till 8:30 this evening.  After some quick packing for our trip to Oak Island tomorrow, I am ready for bed.  Here is a quick glimpse of the bump.  One more week and half-way through!

Swimsuits are not my friend

Tis' the time of year when the warm weather makes you want to put on your swimsuit and catch some rays.  Well not so much for the momma. Although I enjoy laying out, the beach, and the pool, I have not desired to do it as much because of the dreaded hunt for a new swimsuit.  With our upcoming beach trip this Wednesday I really wanted to get a new suit so that I could at least get somewhat of a tan. 

I began searching for a swimsuit this past weekend and immediately found out I could not longer fit my normal sizes.  For example, the top is now an XL.  The girls are just growing at a fast rate these days and have even made bra shopping difficult.  So I came home empty handed over the weekend, but headed back out today and made a purchase of a black bikini.  Black makes you look slimmer, right?!?!

It was still nice when I returned home and I decided to try out the suit and enjoy some evening rays.  Once in the lounge chair I began to think about how difficult laying out will actually be with a growing belly.  As I started out laying down on my back, I began to panic.  All the books say you shouldn't lay on your back for an extended period of time because it could interfere with the flow of blood and nutrients to the placenta and your developing baby.  So then I raised my chair.  Then it came to my attention that I will definitely not be laying on my stomach, so no sun for my back.  I guess I will just have to take some long walks on the beach to get the sun I really want. 
Oh well!

I did enjoy the fact that as I was sitting in the chair I looked down and now saw a raised bump....b.o.b.!  I even found myself rubbing my belly and thinking about all the acrobatic movies s/he was doing in there.  Even though I am not very fond of swimsuits right now, I can put up with it for all the joy that will be brought to my life in a few months!

Hiking Momma!

 Today was the first hike I have taken in my pregnancy.  It was a wonderful day to do so.  The weather was just right and my energy levels are at a high right now(which I know will not last).  My mom and I went to Cascades in Giles Co.  I have been doing this hike since I was a child.  It is nice to have local places to go for day hikes.  We did the the four mile hike in about 3 hours and then enjoyed a lunch together. I felt wonderful after the hike, but I was ready to put on my sandals as soon as it was over.  I think b.o.b. enjoyed the outing too.  There will be many more to come, but the majority of them may have to wait till after b.o.b. arrives.

b.o.b. bump @ 18 weeks

Once again I am a day late with the bump post.  I was just so wiped out yesterday evening.  After being off from school for 4 days, it was hard to get back into routine.

Today's picture is not the best.  I feel as though it makes me look like I have just gained weight....no real bump effect.  The clothing choice isn't that great either, but today's weather did not make it easy to get dressed.  We experienced a dramatic drop to the mid-40s today from our usual 60-70 and even upper 70 degree weather.  Since I made the wardrobe change a few weeks ago, the choices for clothing today were slim pickings.  I decided a pair of my regular jeans, which had to be held together with the lovely rubber band and a fall type bubble shirt would get me through the day.  A shirt that bubbles around the belly is nice some days.  Comfort is my biggest decider on clothing at this point in the game.

Still can't believe how quickly the time is passing by.  Crazy to think that in two more weeks I will be halfway through the pregnancy!

A most informative check-up

I went for my routine check-up today.  It comes in as a top visit (after our initial one of course)!  I saw one of the two midwives at the practice I go to and I came prepared with my list of questions.  Since before getting pregnant, I knew that I wanted to have the most natural childbirth possible. I have even been tossing around the idea of a home birth.  Most recently I have been considering having a Doula at my child's birth.

There is so much research out there that shows natural is such a better way for the mother and the baby.  I have been reading up a lot and have come across a book that is most informative, "The Doula Guide to Birth."  So with the information I have acquired, I wanted to find out what the thoughts of the doctors and midwives of the practice I go to were.

I was grinning ear to ear after my conversation with the midwife.  I found out that they are completely open to a woman's birth plan, multiple positions during the birthing process, the use of tubs and showers, and they don't push for inductions, epidurals, or episiotomies.  I was so relieved to hear all this information and felt  comfortable with the outcome of our conversation.  So even though I have been leaning towards a home birth, the thought of having a birth in the hospital is not as frightening to me anymore.

After our long conversation, the midwife felt for my uterus, which was exactly where she expected it to be.  Then came the sound of our child's wonderful heartbeat!  Nice and strong, between 140-150 beats a minute.  Also on another good note, I have only gained 1 pound in 4 weeks!!!

Here is a clip of b.o.b's heart beat today:

b.o.b.'s first beach trip!

My mom and I left Thursday evening for a trip to Oak Island, N.C.  The trip down went well.  We stopped at a Trader Joe's (my favorite grocery store) and had dinner at a K&W Cafeteria.  We arrived around 10:30, got settled and went to bed. 

The next morning I did not feel so hot.  My back was aching and I felt sick to my stomach.  I am not sure if it was something I ate or if I caught a stomach bug.  I have been experiencing the back/tailbone pain for quite sometime if I sit for a long period.  Since Friday was a rainy day anyways, it worked out that I was not feeling well.  We went to Southport to do a little shopping and stopped at the natural foods store so I could pick up some ginger and Reed's ginger ale (this is the real stuff).  Towards the end of the day I was beginning to feel better.  I took a nap, we had dinner, and then I was in bed by 9:00. 

Saturday was a whole new day!  I woke up feeling 100% better.  We headed to Southport for the Spring Festival.  It was nice to get out and enjoy the weather.  We returned to the house to go for a walk with of course a visit to the beach.  Then dinner was at The Oak Island Restaurant.  I was able to get grilled scallops and oysters, two of my favorite sea foods!  Then mom and I rented a movie to watch for the night. 

Sunday was the dreaded day because I knew we had to head back.  It was also the nicest of the days that we had been there.   We got up, took our walks and visit to the beach.  Cleaned the house some.  Had lunch and were on our way by 2:30. 

I was sad to leave, but am happy about our return in less than two weeks with Mike's parents.  I am so thankful to have a place to retreat to at the beach.  I look forward to the many visits we will get to take when b.o.b. arrives.  B.o.b. will most definitely be a "beach baby"!

Here are a few pics that I was able to take of the beach: