Pregnancy: Week 38 (a few days late) and Other Updates

How far along? 38 weeks & 4 days
Total weight gain: 30 pounds - eating has slowed down due to heartburn/acid reflux
Sleep: Awful. Between bathroom runs and really bad heartburn, I am getting no sleep at all. One night my heartburn was so bad I threw up a few times just for relief.
Gender: Girl
What I miss: Sleep and not feeling tired all the time
Food Cravings: Nothing
Best Moment this week: Being on maternity leave!!
What I am looking forward to: Meeting my daughter!

I haven't been the best blogger in the last week. I thought that being on maternity leave would mean that I have a lot more time. But time seems to be flying by.

Tim and I are constantly anxious. I have dreams about labor, and Tim is dying to meet his daughter. He thinks he is doing his best by talking to her every single night, coaxing her to come into this world soon, but I am now predicting we make it to 40 weeks. Personally I don't care when she comes. At first I wanted her to come early, but I would be okay if I had to go a couple more weeks. I am still really comfortable (except) for the lack of sleep. On the doctor front, I had my 38/39 week check up today and I am 2 cm dilated and 60-70% effaced. I may have lost my mucous plug last week, but I can't be sure. Thank goodness I am on maternity leave though. I am now going into my second week of leave, and I can honestly say it's heaven. Originally I had planned to work my last week this week, but as a first time mom, I didn't realize how much I was going to slow down towards the end. Because the baby is sitting so low, it makes things like walking the dog exhausting.

So how am I keeping myself busy?? I am in a cleaning frenzy!! I clean almost every day, and I am doing laundry all the time. I also am watching a lot of movies, spending time in my day buying Christmas gifts, and meeting up with family and friends for lunches and dinners. Last Thursday my MIL and I went to lunch. After lunch, we spent the afternoon going over her famous recipes. It was fun to hear her memories of each dish, and I loved hearing her funny stories of Tim and what foods he liked as a kid.

Friday night was a really special night for Tim and I. We spent the evening with our best friends, John & Lisa. During dinner, John and Lisa, asked Tim and I to be their baby's god parents. I haven't yet discussed her pregnancy on my blog, so for those that follow me, she is having twins (and yes, they were conceived naturally). They found out a few weeks ago they are having 1 boy and 1 girl - a Royal sampler (right John)?! I am so beyond honored to be a god parent with Tim to these little babes. Lisa is due at the end of March, so our kids will be close in age. I really love John and Lisa like they are family, and can't wait to blend our own families together.

Speaking of family, my Aunt is back home from the hospital after 3 long weeks in ICU. I am amazed every day with her updates. She seems to be doing really well, back with her kids and comforts of home. I just wish we lived closer so I could actually see her and hug her.

And without further a due, some random iPhone pics. Why not???

Evidence of the BEST chicken pot pie EVER cooked. Thanks Tim.

Milo really likes to get into the baby stuff around our house. I think it's ridiculously cute that this is his new place to nap for most of the day. I think he is ready to meet our baby girl!

Bacon hogging my boppy pillow.

Maternity leave consists of lots of snuggle time with my animals.

Is anyone shopping this Friday? Doorbusters for Target start at 4 am, Kohl's at 3 am, and Toys r Us at midnight. I have never shopped that early on Black Friday, but it sounds fun. I wish my mom was coming down for Thanksgiving, because I would make her come with me. Did you know that Target is selling gourmet grilled cheese makers for $3!!?? I wonder how fast a pregnant woman can run into the store when the doors open.

Pregnancy: Week 37

How far along? 37 weeks
Total weight gain: 30 pounds - I packed on 3 pounds this week, I guess she had a growth spurt or I just felt like pigging out.
Sleep: This past week sleep has been awful. I am up 5 times a night, minimum. Yeah, it sucks. I guess I better get used to it.
Gender: Girl
What I miss: My closet full of NON maternity clothes. I am so ready to reunite with them! I literally wear the same outfit every day - Gap Maternity jeans, a top and flip flops. I am just way too pregnant to care anymore.
Food Cravings: Fruit smoothies and salads.
Best Moment this week: Hearing that I am 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced on Wednesday. I am so happy that my body is starting to prepare for labor. All signs point in the right direction, which means she could be here any minute.
What I am looking forward to: Maternity Leave - my last day of work was today. It was bitter sweet. I am off through most of April, and welcome the time to be at home where I can focus on my family and to get to know my daughter.
Milestones: We made it to 37 weeks ---- "fully cooked" as they say.

Pregnancy: Week 36

How far along? 36 weeks
Total weight gain: 27 pounds (I lost a pound from the week prior)
Sleep: I swear my sleep fluctuates more than my mood swings do. I don't want to jinx myself here, but this week sleep has been wonderful. I have found true love in the boppy pillow. At first, it was an adjustment with that big honking pillow in my bed, but now I have this system of how to use it when I roll over. I still wake up to use the bathroom around 4-5 times a night, but I am always able to fall right back asleep. I have also noticed that on a few occasions I am woken up by my wicked heart burn, so I have been propping myself up a bit on my pillows and that seems to work.
Gender: Girl
What I miss: Nothing actually. This week I have been feeling really great. Nothing to complain about. (if you ask me about work, I would have a totally different answer).
Food Cravings: Carbs and Sweets.
Best Moment this week: 36 weeks and I feel wonderful. Per my OBGYN appt. this week she is in head down position and I am measuring on track.
What I am looking forward to: Going on Maternity leave and resting, and my 2nd prenatle massage tomorrow!!
Milestones: We interviewed and selected our Pediatrician.

Pregnancy: Week 34

How far along? 34 weeks
Total weight gain: 28 pounds
Sleep: Terrible!!
Gender: Girl
What I miss: Sleep!
Food Cravings: More sweets. I don't know what it is, but I am so into carbs and sweets. There is a chocolate candy dish at my work, and people keep joking that they should just put it on my desk. I am not eating whatever I want persay, but why not help myself in these last weeks of pregnancy. I have been so good otherwise...
Best Moment this week: my 34 week check up. Tim came with me and we both got vaccinated for the Whooping Cough. All pregnant mom's should do this. There is a girl in my office, who had it three weeks ago. So it's out there.
What I am looking forward to: Our Pediatrician interviews are set up. In two weeks, we are meeting with two offices near our house.
Milestones: Finally got the fabric nursery chair professionally cleaned. The nursery is done!!

Pregnancy: Week 33

How far along? 33 weeks
Total weight gain: 27 pounds
Sleep: It's a miracle when I sleep through the night and it happened twice last week. No bathroom breaks, no uncomfortable tossing and turning....just pure sleep. It felt amazing!!!
Gender: Still a sweet little Girl!!
What I miss:
Food Cravings: Sweets. Anything sweet, especially chocolate chip cookies. I am still not eating much chicken or protein, which worries Tim, but I just am not craving meat. I am sticking to my daily routine of oatmeal, banana's, p & j sandwiches, and fiber one bars. Dinner's usually consist of smoothies, cereal or whatever Tim decides he wants to cook. Last weekend we splurged and ate out twice. Thai food and Italian. I also had sushi with my BF during happy hour after work one day.
Best Moment this week: We attended our hospital tour this past Monday night. Not only was it very informative, but I won two raffles. I won a $50 massage, and a $200 gift certificate for professional photos.
What I am looking forward to: Going on maternity leave and putting the final nesting touches on our home and nursery.
Milestones: Tim installed the car seat, and I washed ALL the clothes and any fabric that will come in contact with our little girl's skin. It took me two days and I felt like our washer and dryer were non stop running. Tim also installed the baby monitors, and I hung and organized all of her clothes.

Pregnancy: Week 32

Wow, 32 weeks.

I still am in awe at this number. There have been so many moments during this pregnancy that I wanted time to stand still; while other weeks I have been so impatient it truly tested my moods. I remember eagerly wanting to get out of the first trimester so I could start sharing the news, and shake my fears of miscarriage.

I had a co-worker ask me today, how I was feeling now that I am nearing the end? I had to sit back and think about that question.

I thought to myself....
Yes, my back hurts
Yes, this indigestion and heartburn is super annoying
Yes, the interrupted sleep I am getting is hard

But honestly, if this is all I have to complain about, then Pregnancy has been good to me. I know people that love being pregnant and miss it. They tell me to enjoy it while it lasts. I get it now.

I promise to never forget this time in my life. I want to appreciate everything about it. During this time, Tim and I have never been closer. We talk about our future with bright eyes, and we have bonded over feeling our baby kick or flutter. We talk about our hopes and dreams. I have come to realize that Tim is not only a wonderful husband, but he will soon be a wonderful dad too.

I have a beautiful round belly that gets bigger by the day. I have this extraordinary body that is changing before my eyes. And our baby, our darling little girl. I get to feel her energetic kicks and pokes all the time! I get to see her roll from one side of my belly to the other.

I giggle at her constant bouts of hiccups, and I love that she is a creature of habit; already making herself comfortable in her favorite position - usually head down to the right of my belly.

So here I am at 32 weeks, with only 8 left to go. So how am I feeling now that I am nearing the end?

I am happy and sad. I can't wait to meet this little girl once she arrives, and I hope I can give her the life I have always dreamed of.

Pregnancy: Week 31

How far along? 31 weeks
Total weight gain: 26 pounds. I am still working out at least 4 times a week. Tuesdays I lift weights in my 24 hour lift class, Mondays and Wednesdays are Turbo Kick, and Thursday or Fridays are elliptical & free weights. I am going to be honest. It's getting harder. With this much extra weight on my frame, it's starting to affect my back. I might start to cut back...we'll see....
Sleep:Awful!! In the last two weeks my sleep has gotten terrible. I am up 3-4 times a night for bathroom breaks alone!! I can't get comfortable with the bobby pillow (I blame the size of our bed on this). I get restless leg syndrome often. Because of this, I tend to have a hard time falling back to sleep, so I tend to wake up super early and tired, well before my daily alarm clock.
Best Moment this week: My baby shower was this past Saturday. It was the most incredible outpouring of love I have ever received. More on that later...
Gender: Girl
What I miss: As I am nearing the end, there are quit a few things I miss. I want to stay positive though. Pregnancy is a gift, a blessing, and I am trying to focus my energy on all the great things that have been happening to my body during this time. I am carrying the most precious life inside of me, preparing for her entrance into this world. I really can't complain about missing too much, when I know in short two months I will get to indulge in all those things again. But okay, lets throw a few things out there: I really miss my regular work out routines. I really miss alcohol and I really miss being able to bend over and shave my legs. There I said it.
What I am looking forward to: Getting some TLC time for myself.
Milestones: I had a doctor's appointment on Friday, and everything looks great. Baby girls heartbeat is on track, my measurements are exactly 31 inches, and overall I feel her move all the time. It's some amazing bonding time for sure!!

Pregnancy: Week 29

How far along? 29 weeks
Total weight gain: 25 pounds! I am pretty happy with that number, and if all goes well I will be under 35 pounds by the time Baby R arrives. I am hoping my daily gym commitments will pay off and help me shed the baby weight after she arrives.
Sleep:I still wake up once a night, but I guess you can say I am used to it now. I am glad that the baby's kicks aren't waking me up in the middle of the night. I think she sleeps when I sleep, which I hope will be the case after she is born (wishful thinking, right).
Best Moment this week: Passing my glucose test last week. This week I have been focusing on work, so not a lot of pregnancy related items to share.
Gender: Girl!
What I miss: My non-maternity clothes. I wish I could be wearing all my cute dresses right now. As far as pregnancy goes, I am starting to have a hard time bending over, rolling over and getting up off the couch. If I drop something, it pretty much stays on the ground. I also have a hard time shuffling the laundry to and from, and transferring it from the washer to the dryer. These types of simple things just make my back ache thinking about them.
What I am looking forward to: My birthday next week and a possible trip up the coast to see my family!
Milestones: I am officially in my 3rd trimester, and am 1 week away from the Big 3-0. As in week 30! I feel like once I hit the 30's I am heading downhill from here.

Pregnancy: Week 27

How far along? 27 weeks
Total weight gain: 23 pounds!! In the last two and half weeks I have jumped up to 23 total pounds gained. Most of the weight gain is in the bump. Tim said I really popped after not seeing me for two weeks.
Sleep: I am doing pretty good on sleep. I am still getting 8-9 hours a night, but am still getting up about once to twice to use the restroom. Tim and I fight over the boppy pillow and have learned to share it. It sleeps in between us in the bed!
Best Moment this week: Getting showered with gifts from co-workers and family during my travels. I also was able to see my cousin, Shannyn, get married and spend a weekend adventure with my mom.
Gender: GIRL!!!!!!!
What I miss: I still get heartburn, and haven't had a sound night of sleep in awhile, but again, I am loving this pregnancy. I get to watch in awe as my body changes right in front to me.
What I am looking forward to: I have my glucose test on Tuesday. Plus I have another appointment to check up on baby girl.
Milestones: Moving into the 3rd trimester! Time is really flying by.

Pregnancy: Week 24

How far along? 24 weeks
Total weight gain: 16 pounds
Sleep: Trust me, there are interruptions all night long! On average I still have about 2-3 bathroom breaks, which isn't surprising because I am getting up about once and downing a glass of water. I am so thirsty all of the time. Which is crazy, because during the day on average I am drinking at least 130 ounces of water. Another crazy thing when I do when I get up in the middle of the night is lather on lotion. My hands are always dry. The boppy pillow has been really helpful with the tossing and turning, but that is only if my husband is not hogging it!!!
Best Moment this week: Having my 24 week check up. Everything is healthy, and I got to hear baby girl's heartbeat. I also got my baby shower invitations (Thanks Mom).
Food cravings: The standard answer applies here: nothing really. I have been indulging in skinny cow ice cream bars about twice a week. They are really delish and low in calories!
Gender: GIRL!
What I miss: A solid night of sleep, and not feeling heartburn (which is something I am feeling almost daily now). Does anyone have advice for curing heartburn? I have tried watching what foods trigger it, but they ALL do. No joke. I have been sticking to natural cures such as a glass of milk or bananas, but it usually fights back with vengeance and returns in a matter of hours.
What I am looking forward to: Finishing the last small parts of the nursery, and my upcoming trips to San Francisco and Phoenix. Then it's almost labor day, which means goodbye to August!!
Milestones: I am 6 months along and couldn't be happier. I still feel great, and am really enjoying this special time between myself and Tim. The bond between us has never been closer, and we have really become quite the team :)

Pregnancy: Week 22

How far along? 22 weeks
Total weight gain: 14 pounds
Sleep: Interrupted!! It's hard to roll over, and I am using the bathroom about 2-3 times a night still. Time to get that baby pillow, which will hopefully help.
Best Moment this week: Tim feeling the baby kick.
Food cravings: None, nothing strange. Still eating as healthy as possible.
Gender: GIRL!
What I miss: Nothing really, I am pretty happy overall. I could use a solid night of sleep though.
What I am looking forward to: Registering for our shower, finding a location to host our shower and finishing the nursery in weeks to come
Milestones: I am definitely showing in all clothing items now :) It feels good to have this baby bump. I really love watching all the changes and feeling her kick and move.

Pregnancy: Week 19 1/2

How far along? 19 weeks, 5 days
Total weight gain: 12 pounds according to my home scale yesterday
Sleep: UGH, the last few weeks were awful. I had a cold a while back, and this week I am constantly getting up to use the bathroom.
Best Moment this week: Starting the feel the flutters, and I am almost positive I felt a real kick in there. It happened Monday at the same spot, two in a row. We also bought a dresser and have started to put up the curtains in the room. The crib is also half assembled!
Food cravings: None.
Gender: We find out this Monday.... :)
What I miss: Sleep mostly. Overall though, I am enjoying pregnancy and miss very little.
What I am looking forward to: Finding out the sex and feeling more and more movement.
Milestones: Flutters and small kicks.

I am still carrying very small. My mom carried small, so I am thinking I will carry similar to her. She didn't start to show until 5-6 months. You can't really tell I am pregnant unless I really stick out my stomach, but even then I am just looking a little bloated. I am really bad at taking pictures. I will try and take some tonight at the Kings of Leon concert with Sousan.

And here's a little music for the ears...One of my favorite KOL songs.

Pregnancy: Week 17

How far along? 17 weeks, 4 days
Total weight gain: 8 pounds, I am currently at 148 as Monday, June 21st
Sleep: I'm getting a solid 9 hours and even sleeping through the night on some nights. And my dreams are intense!
Best Moment this week: Spending time with family! My mom came down for three days, and we spent 2 nights and 1 full day with my Aunt, Uncle and cousins in Huntington Beach. It was so much fun beaching it, swimming, laying out, watching movies and playing scrabble!! As far as baby stuff goes, we got our crib! It finally made it home thanks to our friend, Pete and his truck. It's in pieces right now in the guest room.
Food cravings: None.
Gender: We will find out July 19th!!
What I miss: My body! Tim found a small patch of varicose veins on my left leg yesterday. You can hardly see them *Right now*
What I am looking forward to: Finding out the sex of our baby.
Milestones: I am wearing mostly maternity bottoms at this point.

**Side note: One day I have a bump, the next day I just look fat. I am anxious to start to show already. Even today as I write this, I have no signs that I am pregnant, even though I am wearing a maternity skirt!! I will try and take a bump picture this week. I took a few in my bathing suit last Friday, but there is too much skin showing for my internet comfort level!

Pregnancy: Week 15

How far along? 15 weeks, 3 days
Total weight gain: Last I checked I gained around 4 pounds. I have my routine doctor's appointment one week from today, so I will know exactly how much I have gained then.
Sleep: I have been sleeping great, except for the 2-3 times I have to get up and use the restroom. Other than that, I am getting at least 8-9 hours of sleep a night, and it seems to help me maintain most of my energy throughout the day.
Best Moment this week: Shopping! I scored two pairs of designer jeans, a handful of other cute clothes items, the crib bedding set, the CRIB, and the first purchases for the baby: some onesies. (I'll most likely do a separate blog entry about this soon).
Food cravings: None, and no aversions. I am still feeling very lucky about this! My eating habits are still the same as they were before I was pregnant.
Gender: We should be finding out the sex in the next month or so, but in the meantime, I am thinking it is a boy...
What I miss: Not being "winded" so easily. I tend to get very winded if I take on too much (i.e. bringing groceries up the stairs).
What I am looking forward to: Seeing my family in the next two weeks...
Milestones: Showing a bump, and moving into some maternity clothes.

Pregnancy: Week 13

How far along? 13 weeks
Total weight gain: 2 pounds
Sleep: I am now consistently waking up once to twice a night, without fail. I have been cutting back on my water intake a couple hours before bed, but that doesn't seem to be helping.
Best Moment this week: Hearing the baby's heartbeat at our 12 week appointment and getting another ultra sound. The technician said our baby was really active. He/She was flipping upside down, touching it's face, waving, touching it's feet, nodding. It was soooo cool!! :)
Food cravings: I still don't have any cravings! I am not waking up at midnight, screaming at Tim to run out and get me a pickle! I don't like chicken right now, and am having a hard time getting my protein. I am typically getting protein from nuts and protein supplement I put in my fruit smoothies.
Gender: ?
What I miss: Nothing! The past couple of weeks have been fantastic.
What I am looking forward to: Finding out the sex of the baby!!
Milestones: The secret is out. Now that we are almost out of the 1st trimester, we have told all of our close friends and family!



According to The Bump, our little baby is the size of a peach.

Pregnancy: Week 10

How far along? 10 1/2 weeks
Total weight gain: Not sure, honestly. I haven't stepped on a scale. I will probably just wait to weigh myself at my next doctor's appointment on May 24th.
Sleep: Occasionally I wake up once a night, but then there will be nights that I sleep sound all the way through.
Best Moment this week: Sharing the news with more friends.
Food cravings: I don't have any cravings, I just have aversions. My safe foods are: Oatmeal, Fruit (I could eat fruit all day long), and bagels with cream cheese.
Gender: ?
What I miss: Feeling good in my own clothes. I feel bloated and fat all the time. This whole body changing thing is going to be a hard adjustment for me.
What I am looking forward to: Getting out of the first trimester!
Milestones: I am starting to show. I have a small belly, that sticks out a tad.

Pregnancy: Week 8 & Our First Doctor's Appointment

How far along? 8 weeks
Total weight gain: Zero
Sleep: I get up on average of once a night
Best Moment this week: My doctor's appointment!!
Food cravings: Nothing notable this week
Gender: ?
What I miss: Alcohol. Especially now that I am in Las Vegas for the next week.
What I am looking forward to: Telling my family the big news
Milestones: Seeing the baby for the first time on the ultra sound.

Tim and I had our first doctor's appointment last Monday. Words cannot even describe the feelings. I had anxiety, fear and an overwhelming sense of joy the whole morning. The first part of the appointment was the ultra sound. The technician found the embryo right away (they don't call it a fetus until after 10 or 11 weeks). It was about 4 mm in length and it had a steady heartbeat. Multiples run in my family, and I wanted her to make sure there weren't two! Can you imagine?? She printed pictures and we immediately gushed at them. We were getting the first picture of our little baby. The moment was surreal.

The next part of the appointment was my annual, and the main check with my OBGYN. I have been seeing her for 3 years, and love her. But this was Tim's first time meeting her and I wanted him to like her. He did. We probably sat in the room and chatted for almost a good 45 minutes a about the health of the baby and our family history. She suggested a few tests that we will be starting at week 12 which tests for down syndrome and other abnormalities. It's important to us to do all the testing needed to make sure our baby is healthy. I plan on covering this in depth in another blog post but for now I am going to skip past it.

I got all my blood work done, which was a little scary. By the time the appointment was completely over, I had been there 3 hours and had scheduled my next appointment for week 12.

By the way, we looked like first time parents to be in the waiting room. We had our Mayo Clinic Pregnancy Book, all of our questions, our questionnaire forms and probably a look of anxiety all over our faces. All the pregnant women seemed like such pros with their adorable belly bumps.

I can really only say one thing so far about going through our first appointment: It makes everything feel so incredibly real. We both sat together later that evening and thought for the first time, we are going to be parents.

Pregnancy: Week 6

How far along? 6 weeks
Total weight gain: Zero
Sleep: No changes
Best Moment this week: My dreams! I have been seeing a little girl in most of them...is this a sign?
Food cravings: Pickles and OJ. I am not "craving" them per se, but my taste buds absolutely love them when I do have them.
Gender: ?
What I miss: My energy. I am fatigued all of the time.
What I am looking forward to: My first doctors appointment.
Milestones: Half way through the first trimester!

Pregnancy: Week 5 & Some Changes to this Blog

Wow, things have changed!! Tim and I are having a baby, so this blog will start documenting this new chapter for us. Both of us are still shocked, and the idea that we are going to have a baby in 9 months doesn't actually feel real!

I hope that my blog becomes a great resource for other moms-to-be & future mom's thinking of pregnancy. I know I have found knowledge in a personal forum by reading my favorite bloggers. Plus I can now document all of the pregnancy up's and down's, allowing me to keep a personal record that I can reflect back on.

While the idea below isn't exactly original, I am going to try to provide a weekly update. I might not get around to it every week, if nothing is going on, but I really want to look back and remember every single detail of this pregnancy. I am beyond excited, and I hope you stick around through all this baby mumbo-jumbo. I promise my regular posts won't always be about baby, pregnancy and some random food craving I am having....I am still obsessed with clothes and shopping, and I still have lots of confessions to make on Tuesdays :)



How far along? 5 1/2 weeks
Total weight gain: Zero. My weight is still the same as pre-pregnancy.
Sleep: No changes
Best Moment this week: Telling Tim's side of the family the big news
Food cravings: None
Gender: ?
What I miss: A glass of wine at dinner
What I am looking forward to: My first doctors appointment
Milestones: We are pregnant!