Let the good times roll...

Layla Blaine at 30w3d

Well, good news! Turns out all it took to up my AF was to drown myself in water & take it easy for a few days. At our first scan on Wednesday my fluid measured at 9cm which is on the "lower end of normal" and at our scan on Friday my AF was up to 15! Whew!

I was so relieved to know it was nothing more than needing to increase my water intake. I felt like I drank plenty of water throughout the day but apparently my body needed more. I invested in a fabulous 32oz. Bubba keg with these awesomely huge straws & I basically refill it alllllll day long. 

I bought mine at Target

I should also probably avoid those salt & vinegar chips I was loving last week!

I had cancelled our 3rd attempt at a 3D ultrasound because of my fluid & having to schedule a doctor's appointment..and looks like we didn't miss out on seeing her face. See her picture up there? Yeah..she has her foot on top of her nose. Apparently space is limited in there and she's folded up with her feet at her face. I'm looking forward to having a future yoga partner!

I'm also hoping she's not giving us a glimpse into her teenage future with that duck face she seems to be making. I like to think she was just blowing a kiss! I did ask the tech about those lips, she said that baby's nose & lips typically look bigger on an ultrasound than they actually are. 

So..all in all, we are in the clear! I'm looking forward to getting back to our trouble free pregnancy. My midwife said, "if this were my baby, I would be very very happy!"

Now for her daddy to get home...

Fingers crossed!

Layla and I had our 30 week appointment today and we came home with mixed news.

First, the good news..and that she is absolutely still a GIRL!

The ultrasound tech pointed out that her lady parts looked like a hamburger so now that's all I see when I look at this picture, ha! I am appreciative that she listened to my craziness and took a quick peek for me.

The ultrasound was a little unexpected due to the midwife from today finally recognizing that my belly is a little smaller than it should be. I measured 26 weeks today and even though this made me nervous, I was appreciative that someone finally took notice rather than attributing it to "oh you're just tall!". It was a relief in a strange way. We did a growth scan just to make sure all was going well.

Baby girl is growing perfectly which was my main worry when I heard that I was measuring small. She is currently 3 pounds 8 oz and all her parts are measuring right on track. She is measuring in the 50th percentile which is completely normal. My midwife said they like to see anything between 10%-90% so 50 is right in the middle. She gave us a great shot of her  bum (she's always been really eager to show off her lady parts!) but of course made it nearly impossible to get any view of her face (shocker!).

She is definitely making us wait for her grand debut to show us that face!

She is in the same position as when I went for the 3D ultrasound; head down, back curving along my left side, her bum is under my leftside ribs and feet are over under my right ribs. Even though the ultrasound wasn't happening for a great reason, I always love seeing her and hearing that she is growing well.

The only less than stellar news is that my fluid is measuring a little lower than where they would like it to be. This along with my long torso is why my belly is a little smaller. My fluid level isn't dangerously low and is on the "low side of normal"..so I'm not panicking. Layla is so active (and was while we were waiting at our appointment) so her activity level along with her growth make me feel better. I still of course want my fluid to be where it should be. I will go for a second ultrasound this Friday to make sure my level isn't decreasing. If it is staying the same, then no worries. If it has decreased then I will go to the hospital for IV fluids and bed rest.

My mind is kind of all over the place..I'm not stressing because the news isn't necessarily bad. She is not in danger and hopefully after today and tomorrow it will have increased when we scan again. I think I'm just used to having in-and-out appointments where they give me a once over and say "ok great, see ya next time".

The only thing that puts me a little on edge is taking into consideration all of the plans I have for the next few weeks, as far as moving back to North Carolina. If my fluid becomes an "issue" then I will start going to the doctor 2x/week which could make switching doctors a little more hectic and could maybe even take the whole move off the table. I wouldn't want to push my luck or my body.

However it works, we will figure it out. I believe sometimes things happen and plans change for a reason. I'm staying positive that nothing more comes from this but until Friday, I'm chugging water and staying off my feet as much as I can. Waiting to see how the scan comes back on Friday to see if we will still take our trip to NC for the week of Christmas. Fingers crossed!

30 Weeks - Let the countdown begin!

How Far Along: 30 weeks! Oh yes, I can count the remaining weeks on my hands. 

How I'm Feeling: I'm somewhere between "oh I'm not that big" and "holy shit she has to practically double in weight!"

I physically feel great for being 30 weeks pregnant. Very minimal discomfort and I am only reminded that I'm pregnant when I'm trying to get out of the car or off of the couch. Or when she karate kicks my boobs when I'm sitting. Now that she has turned head down I feel a lot of little kicks up top and I think she moves her elbows back-and-forth across my lower abdomen. I always feel hiccups in my lower left side which at the last ultrasound was right where her head was.

A lot of the comments on my weekly update were women with an entire list of complaints..heartburn, can't sleep, swollen, stretch marks, nauseous, all over pains, headaches..the list continues. I am feeling very fortunate to be able to enjoy my pregnancy. I know as the weeks progress I'll become increasingly uncomfortable but for now I feel pretty damn good!

Mentally, I'm so in love with her! I can only imagine how that love will grow once she's here. I feel like I'm understanding where moms get their "my child is the cutest/best/most beautiful child ever" complex. From just the tiny glimpses I got from her last ultrasound I'm obsessed with her! I told Dylan, "I think she really is cute..and I'm not just saying that because she's ours"..and then I started wondering if thats what every mom thinks! It begins...

Weight Gain/Loss: I'll find out tomorrow at my doctor's appointment! 

Cravings: Cheesecake & Salt and Vinegar chips. No, not together. Ha.

Gender: Girl ...I'm having unsolicited fears that she is really a boy and everyone was wrong in the beginning. It's the crazy talking..

What I Miss: Still not missing much..I had a moment yesterday that called for a jumbo delish margarita! The good kind..not too green..not too mixy..perfect slush factor. Oh yeah..could have gone for one of those! Have to wait a while longer..

What I'm Looking Forward To: I'm very excited because the previously mentioned stressful moment actually ended in getting an actual plan for these next few weeks! I was able to pinpoint when I'll move back to NC, when Dylan will be home (don't screw this up USMC!), and when to schedule with my doctor up there. It was a huge relief to finally finally have some answers.

My mom and I are going up to my house in NC next week for Christmas..I'm excited to see Marchello & spend some time in the nursery. There isn't really much I can do at this point but just getting some of Layla's things up there will feel good. It will feel like a mini vacation.

I ordered our cloth diaper stash...shipping takes FOREVER but I'm relieved to know they are on their way and I'm looking forward to that little venture. It's still shocking to me that I'm excited to cloth diaper..I literally said I would never, ever cloth diaper and now I'm so happy that we are.

Weekly Wisdom: I've mentioned starting your registry early before, but I'm coming back to say it again because I am still obsessing over ours. I started the registry in the first trimester (kept it private for the time being) and up until today I am still adding/deleting/altering ours. I feel like it's finally "complete" but I can't imagine how stressed I would feel if I had waited till late in the game to start it! Give yourself the time to research and look into what you think would benefit your family the most. There have been plenty of items that I thought were "MUST HAVES" when I first became pregnant and now that time is drawing closer, I've become more realistic as to what we can really get the most use from (example: delete the ruffled diaper covers, add more burp cloths). I think the longer you're in the "baby waiting game" and the more blogs that you read from new moms you discover new praise and criticism of certain products.

We've also been very fortunate to have some of our registered items handed down to us from family friends. It's been great because it allows me to delete those items from the registry in hopes that other items can be fulfilled! 

Dear Layla..

Oh Layla Blaine, how much I already love you! Your momma just wanted to say how happy she is that you flipped and are no longer breech. Maybe it was my stretching and downward dog poses, or maybe you are just moving at your own perfect pace and flipped right when you were "supposed" to. You are already teaching me a lesson, and that is to not worry...you are doing great in there. 

Lauren, the ultrasound tech, was very patient with you today as you are still camera shy. She said maybe you are waiting for your daddy to show us your sweet face. You gave us a couple decent shots and I'm very grateful to have them. I think you are adorable! You have the cutest little nose & the sweetest little chunky cheeks! Despite you keeping your arm in front of your face (and even a foot at one point) I still can't stop staring at your pictures. You weigh 3lbs 5 oz right now and if you gain at the average half pound/week you should be around 8 pounds by the time you arrive! Whew! Your long legs are measuring in the 87th percentile...no question who you got those legs from!

We will see if the "third time is a charm" at your next ultrasound. It will just be me so maybe you won't be so shy! If so, that's okay too. It won't be much longer until we see you in person and I have a feeling I won't be able to take my eyes off of you.

It was your daddy's birthday today! I showed him your pictures and he said that you were beautiful.

We can't wait to meet you!!

29 weeks

How Far Along: 29 weeks! Baby girl is roughly around the size of a butternut squash. Size references are starting to get really weird and confusing! She is busy packing on fat (and Mommy feels the same way!). 

How I'm Feeling: No complaints. Physically, I feel like Layla let's me know how I will sit and lay. She is quick to let me know if I'm squishing her, bossy lady. Oh, and she is a maniac in there. She looks like she's having a rave in my belly every night (which is my favorite thing to watch). She rolls around so much I can't tell where she is or what position she is in right now. We have our second attempt at the 3D ultrasound this Saturday so I am really hoping she has flipped or is at least in a better position when we peek at her.

Mentally, I feel good this week. The child birth class I attended answered any and every question or thought I've had about the labor and delivery process. It really set my mind at ease & I highly recommend attending a class if you have the opportunity. It was taught by my (so far) favorite midwife and it was the opportunity to have a 5 hour question-answer session (along with free breakfast and lunch, hellloooo...).

Dylan is also in the beginning stage of making the transition to coming home...still not sure of when it will be, but at least the ball is rolling. Thank you God.

Weight Gain/Loss: My appetite has increased A LOT. I would think I am definitely hitting my 1 pound/week gain. I have my appointment next week to get the official weight gain. 

Cravings: Ok, so the pie craving is over. Whew. I think I am just flat out hungry now, so anything and everything will do! The only thing I craved this week was to try Starbucks' Caramel Apple Spice...blah. Holy sweet. I liked it for about 5 minutes. I tried to stock up on vegetables at the grocery store...Layla feels like such a REAL little person in there and her arrival is becoming more and more of a reality. I feel like I need to eat healthy as much as I possibly can! Plus, I need all the fiber I can get...if you catch my drift.

Gender: Girl ...and the best little tap dancing, break dancer baby around!

What I Miss: As a self proclaimed wino, I feel like I could say wine every week. My pregnancy has been so good and easy, I honestly don't miss a whole lot. I feel like there is so much to look forward to that I don't really focus on what I'm missing. 

What I'm Looking Forward To: Where to begin? I am looking forward to Saturday and to hopefully have a successful ultrasound! I am trying to not get too excited as I know it could be another flop {whomp whomp} but I gave Layla a big pep talk so fingers crossed we get at least a decent glimpse! I am also looking forward to learning more about Dylan's return date and finally creating a plan for us as far as where I will deliver, etc. I'm excited for my doctor's appointment next week as it's my last 4 week visit & I will then start going every other week!

Dylan and I also are having a new washer & dryer delivered to our NC house this week! (Merry Christmas to us!)
We have made the decision to cloth diaper and I can't wait to put in our first order of diapers..seriously, they are so CUTE. Obsessed. Dylan is 100% on board and was actually the one to push me further into looking into cloth diapering. I was never one to think I would have any interest in the whole thing, but it's worth looking into if you are curious! 

Weekly Wisdom: I mentioned it earlier, but if you have the chance to go to a child birth class, do it!
There are so many thoughts and unknowns while pregnant with your first baby, it was so nice to have my mind put at ease. I feel so much more prepared which is invaluable. My class wasn't sitting on the floor practicing breathing and being rediculous, it was informative and laid back and 5 hours honestly flew by. I feel like we got the "inside scoop" of how things REALLY go during your time in the hospital and during delivery straight from the mouth of a midwife who has delivered over 2400 babies. Much better information than what you read online (which can be terrifying)!

I created a list of my "pregnancy must haves" early on & wanted to give an updated list of my favorites & must haves now that I'm in the final stretch...

Chocolate Peppermint Stick

.Luna Bars: This has been my "go to" snack and sometimes even my night time "sweet" fix.

{70% organic, folic acid, iron, protein & fiber...plus, they are pretty freaking delish!}

Kashi Nutty Chia Flax

. Kashi Heart to Heart Nutty Chia Flax: Ok, now don't buy this expecting it to make you drop to your knees in holy yumminess. It's pretty good (enough for me to re buy it) and again makes for a good snack (I eat mine with unsweetened vanilla almond milk). It's high in B6, B12, and (again) folic acid. The reviews are fairly negative on the Kashi site and I have to admit there is a lot of truth in that a majority of the flax/chia seeds sink down to the bottom of the bag. However, I didn't feel like I was eating bird seed like some of the reviews said. I doubt this cereal would be for everyone, but it's worth a shot! 

Palmers Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion

.Palmers Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion: I really like this lotion & will continue to use it up until I have our baby girl. I started out using Bert's Bee's Mama Bee Belly Butter and I have it sitting in my medicine cabinet. Once my sickness passed and I could tolerate smells again, something in my brain started hating the Mama Bee. Maybe I associated it with my sickness, not sure. I am 29 weeks pregnant and have no stretch marks as of yet. Granted, this could have all to do with my body, rate of weight gain & genetics and nothing to do with any lotion. However, this lotion also helped once my belly really started to grow causing my tummy to itch. It's also really affordable so that's a plus!

Nature Made Prental Multi + DHA

.Nature Made Prenatal Multi + DHA: Even though I strive to eat as healthy as I can, taking my prental vitamin is a {weirdly} favorite part of my daily routine. I always feel like I'm giving Layla a dose of health. My midwife recommended a prenatal with DHA so I've been taking this specific one since my first trimester. The prenatal I received from the doctor made me super hungry and I swear made my face break out. I've had no side effects from this one! I take it after dinner every night & will continue to take it while breastfeeding.

     *Side note: if you have a membership to Costco I recommend purchasing it there. Most stores only sell the 90 count and for around $18-20/bottle. I bought a 120 count bottle at Costco for around $12.

Maternity Leggings

.Maternity Leggings:  I linked to Gap leggings, mine are honestly a cheap random pair I found at Ross a long time ago {before I was even pregnant, long story}. I've always been a leggings fan but now I literally wear them with e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. Granted, I'm pregnant during the colder months so a lot of the cute maternity shorts & skirts are off the list for me. I have two pairs of Gap maternity skinny jeans that I really have every intention of wearing, but leggings are just so easy. 

Prenatal Yoga DVD

.Prental Yoga with Shiva Rae: I read a lot of reviews on prenatal yoga DVD's before purchasing this one. Prior to becoming pregnant, I loved practicing yoga and how it made me feel physically and mentally. I was looking for a routine that was challenging enough for me to feel like I "did" something, however I didn't want it to be overly tiring or with poses that made me nervous. Going from traditional yoga/hot yoga classes, this tape seemed super dull at first (especially before I had really started to show or "feel pregnant"). However, now that I'm in my third trimester I really like it. There are enough standing poses that leave your leg muscles feeling worked but there is a lot of stretching (which I thought was boring in the beginning) but now I love! With the tight hips I experience from sleeping along with just feeling less flexible right now, it feels really good to stretch and breathe. The tape has 3 actors, each one in a different trimester so you can follow along with your correlating actor. There may be (and probably is) a more exciting/fun DVD to try but for me I just stuck with this one.

...so, those are my main essentials that I've loved having during this pregnancy!

Hello there, Third Trimester

How Far Along: 28 weeks! THIRD TRIMESTER is officially here. I am somewhere in the middle of, we have plenty of time and holy moly, she could be here in as little as 9(ish) weeks. I pulled out all of her baby clothes that I've collected so far & I just can't wait to see her in some of the outfits. This week, baby girl should be somewhere around 2.5-3 pounds and somewhere around 16 inches long (our long legged girl is probably a little longer!). She is now capable of dreaming away in there & this mommy hopes she is dreaming up a plan to flip to the head down position.

How I'm Feeling: Physically, this has been the first week of having actual uncomfortable moments. It's getting a little harder to sit up when I'm laying down & it's getting harder to get up off of the ground. Two nights ago I was out walking my dogs & couldn't wait to come in and lay down. I was having semi-intense pains but only on one side so I ruled out contractions. Wishful thinking is maybe she was stretching and (possibly) starting to transition to head-down. It's felt like her entire body has been lodged in my pelvis lately which hurts at times. I'm continuing to have random Braxton Hicks contractions. I had one big one on the same night as the intense pains where my belly got so tight I could see two big lumps, I'm assuming her head and butt.

I've had a practically pain-free pregnancy up until now so these "major" pains are probably things that some people have been experiencing for a while now. Welcome to the third trimester I guess! 

Oh, and I passed my glucose test! WOO HOO!

Weight Gain/Loss: 11 pounds total so far. I'm right on track to hit my 25 pound weight gain that my first doctor recommended for me so that makes me feel pretty confident that my body is responding just how it should be. 

Cravings: Still loving this Trader Joes apple pie! Seriously, if you're lucky enough to have a TJ's near you..you need to buy one. Pop a piece in the microwave for 20 seconds and thank me later.

Gender: Girl. I can't wait to meet her & see Dylan with our daughter.  

What I Miss: My husband. Still no news on his return & this momma is getting really impatient! 

What I'm Looking Forward To: My first birthing class this weekend! It's taught by some of the midwives from my practice & covers a wide range of topics..I'm excited! My mom is going with me since Dylan can't be here. It's about a 5 hour class so I'm totally stashing some snacks in my purse.

Weekly Wisdom: Lets see if I can come up with some wisdom underneath all of my hormonal angst. Trying...trying...I got nothin'.

Anyways..I plan on posting my updated list of "Pregnancy Must Haves" soon as well as my hospital bag purchases so far. It's never too early to get your bag packed!

I'll leave you with some of my baby pictures I dug up over the past weekend...

I wasn't lying about the melon head.

Luckily, I got cuter..and yes my mother always dressed me like this.

xoxo.

27 weeks

How Far Along: 27 weeks. I decided to go with the 3rd trimester beginning at 28 weeks so...this week marks the last of my 2nd! Woo hoo! All of my update emails mention the "final stretch" and "almost there" but I feel like February is so far away. Everyone keeps saying, she's going to be here before you know it! I hope time goes quickly only because I'm so excited to meet her! Part of me believes them, part of me doesn't. 

How I'm Feeling: I feel good! I've noticed my appetite has increased so I try and keep a lot of snacks in the house. She's gaining about 6oz/week right now so it makes sense that I would need some extra cals! I'm sure I'll be getting plenty of extra calories come Thanksgiving..seriously can't wait.

Layla girl is breech as of now so I'm really hoping she will flip around soon. I've been doing some downward dog type stretches to maybe give her a little push. She still has plenty of time to shift to head-down, I am being selfish and wanting her to flip by 30 weeks so that we can see her clearly on her next ultrasound!

I know she's still head up because I feel her little feet fluttering and kicking down low. She has stayed active all day long recently...I love it! I call her my crazy girl because she seems to be a nut in there. She has started to get the hiccups this week!

Braxton Hicks contractions are starting. I mostly just notice my stomach getting super hard but they are painless and very sporadic. I've only had one stop me in my tracks when I got up to go to the bathroom early in the morning. I think it may have been coupled with my ongoing "bathroom issue" which by that I mean, I hardly ever "go". Fun pregnancy times. Now that she's bigger she puts a lot of pressure on everything down there.

Weight Gain/Loss: Probably still somewhere around 10-11 pounds total. I need to start weighing at home just to keep track of my weight gain from this point on.

Cravings: Apple pie! These Thanksgiving commercials plant ideas in my head! Trader Joes has an apple pie that is quite delish I have to say! I also bought some gourmet cupcakes (gourmet makes them sound way better and totally acceptable to buy...right?) yesterday. I picked them up, put them back down, and picked them up again. They are pumpkin spice with cream cheese frosting...who could possibly say no? So I bought a pie & cupcakes..shame shame shame (but soo good).

Gender: Girl & she has so many cute girly clothes heading her way from a fabulous Gap sale. I was pretty proud of myself for the savings...

What I Miss: Brunch. After the (so called) ultrasound on Saturday, we went to brunch where I would typically have joined in on the bottomless mimosas and eggs benedict. I had some yummy sweet potato pancakes but didn't pack quite the same punch as I sipped on my club soda. Oh well..very minimal loss!

What I'm Looking Forward To: Thanksgiving! It should be a good time with my family and food. I'm still waiting for my gestational diabetes blood work. I figured they would call me next day, but their website says to allow 10-14 days for blood work..weird.

Weekly Wisdom: If you're pregnant during the fall/winter, maternity leggings will be your best friend. They go with anything and everything & are super comfortable. I bought some maternity pants a while back when they were on sale and have yet to wear them. Leggings are where it's at people, for real.

Camera shy.

Well, it's official. Dylan and I have the most stubborn little girl & she's not even born yet!

Lord help us.

All I can do is laugh, but we went for the eagerly anticipated 3D ultrasound and Layla decided she didn't want to participate today. I either have great intuition or I jinxed it, but I just knew that she was going to be difficult. I joked that she would probably cover her face come showtime and..that's exactly what she did!

She's also breech, which isn't a big deal as of yet, but the ultrasound tech said it makes it harder to get a good image when they are head up.

So oh well...we rescheduled for 3 weeks from now. I'm disappointed because I was so excited to see her today but, I would rather have a good session with good pictures rather than battle with her and that stubborn arm for the length of my appointment.

For as wiggly and crazy as she seems to be in there, she sure does love to keep that arm up by her head! She had the same arm up by her face at her 15 week & 18 week ultrasounds. Home girl better move that arm out of the way come birth time because I read a horror story of a woman who delivered with her baby's arm by his head and to put it shortly, it wasn't pretty. Ahhhh..

As much as I didn't get to see today, I did get a quick glimpse of her yawning on the 2D ultrasound which was cute. She was probably saying, yawn..are y'all going to leave me alone yet? It wasn't the clearest image (the tech was more concerned with getting her to move her arm than try and get a good shot..which was fine) but I did get to see her chubby little cheeks and round head! She will absolutely have my big round melon head. I know I keep saying that, and you can't really tell now that I have a big head, but my head & fat face barely fit in my hospital newborn photo. I'll try and find the picture. Knowing how she is positioned now, it's definitely her big noggin I always feel around my belly button.

Today was just a reminder that although she may be inside me and I'm carrying her, she is her own little person on her own schedule already! Maybe she will feel more cooperative in 3 weeks..

Still waiting to get an update on when Dylan will be home...seems like I'm waiting for a lot these days! Oh well, such is life..and all good things are worth waiting for.

26 weeks

How Far Along: 26 weeks! It's up in the air as to if this is my last week before the (TA DAAAA) third trimester! I've read that the third tri starts at 27 weeks or 28 weeks. Who knows. Baby Girl is opening her eyes this week & continuing to pack on some fat. All of her senses are now developed & she can react to loud sounds. She is measuring right on track based on my belly measurement at my appointment. Such a high achiever already ;)

How I'm Feeling: Physically, I am tired..I'm not sleeping too well with the constant shifting from side to side (thanks hip pain). I feel like soon I'll need to start rolling over on my hands and knees rather than just rolling across my back (for such an easy task, it's getting harder and harder to do!). My sweet furbabies like to wake me up at 6:45 every morning to go out...could be worse, but once I'm up I'm up for the day. Emotionally, I'm just ready to get an update as to when Dylan will be coming home. I've also started becoming obsessed that I won't have everything I need for her. It's irrational but probably common amongst crazy first time mommas. I'm signing up for a birthing class at my OBGYN office and I'm hoping surrounding myself with other pregnant ladies will help put my mind at ease.

Oh, and pregnancy brain is real. I've almost sprayed root lifter all over myself instead of perfume, I've almost sprayed perfume in my hair rather than hair spray, and last night when I was cooking pasta I couldn't figure out why the water wasn't boiling..hint: it helps to turn the burner on. 

Weight Gain/Loss: Up 6 pounds from my 22 week appointment, so a total of 10 pounds. 

Cravings: No real cravings...I've been trying to eat healthy as I'm obsessed with knowing everything I eat gets passed on to Layla. I'm having the GD glucose test tomorrow so I've tried to stay away from lots of sweets (whether that has any effect, who knows..). Fingers crossed for good results!

Gender: Girl. She is so active! I'm trying to figure out how she is positioned in there..I've read that she should start shifting to the head-down position but from what I can tell she is feet down..way down. She likes kicking my bladder and I can literally see her feet tap dancing low in my pelvic area. If I feel around my belly button I can feel something big & hard (I'm assuming her head??). I'm hoping the ultrasound can give me an idea of what in the world she's up to in there.

What I Miss: Not much. Wine would probably be the main thing, especially with the holidays coming up! Yum...holidays..I am so looking forward to all of the eating heading my way. 

What I'm Looking Forward To: A LOT! My appointment tomorrow, ultrasound on Saturday (I get teary eyed thinking of seeing her sweet face), Thanksgiving, Christmas, my baby shower in January, and Dylan coming home! 

Weekly Wisdom: Check out what classes your hospital offers! I got online to look at my hospitals offerings and they have a lot I would like to take if I am here in Atlanta. They offer breastfeeding classes for couples or just moms. They even have a "Baby and Your Dog" class which I will definitely consider checking on.  

Infant Headbands: Babylicious Divas

So, of course when I found out that we were having a little girl I started thinking about all of the sweet headbands and accessories I could buy for her! Because seriously, nothing is cuter than a little nugget in a headband. I browsed Etsy and came across the shop Babylicious Divas...

{Etsy Shop}

I knew that I would need to gradually build my headband arsenal and didn't want to spend a fortune doing so. I really love that this shop is run by a mother & daughter team. Their pricing is very reasonable and all of their products look adorable. I ordered two sets of 6 headbands..

I didn't order newborn size as I have a strong feeling Layla will be born with my big melon head. I went with the 0-3 size and I'm hoping they will fit her! I love that the flowers aren't obnoxiously huge. All of the headbands seem very well made and I just think they are the sweetest things ever!

For 12 headbands, I spent around $26. If you "Like" their Facebook page you can receive 10% off which is a little added perk.

The shop seems to do a lot of business but still provides great customer service. I liked that they provided tracking on their shipping and I received my package really quickly and right on time. I love buying from great Etsy shops because my purchases always come so nicely packaged!

Dylan asked if we could put a "soft cap" on the number of headbands we order. I said I would try..

I have stumbled across two different DIY headband tutorials via Pinterest that I plan on trying next week. I'm typically decent at crafting as long as steps are clear and there is no sewing involved, ha. I'll head to Hobby Lobby this weekend and, fingers crossed, will have a new budget-friendly way of adding to her collection!

25 weeks

How Far Along: 25 weeks - baby girl is the size of a large cauliflower & is using her equilibrium to determine up from down!

How I'm Feeling: I am fighting some ridiculous heartburn today! I think that she is moving up higher (which would explain the heartburn) and my belly looks different. I've thought it was shrinking (I'm crazy, I admit it), but I think rather than being balled up lower down she is stretched out and up higher.

Weight Gain/Loss: Fingers crossed I've put on a few..we will find out next week! 

Cravings: Not really a craving, but Talenti gelato is amazing. Their chocolate peanut butter Cup is insane. I also tried their peppermint bark flavor which was pretty delish as well.

"Our gelato is made with fresh, hormone-free milk and only pure cane sugar. Not only is it delicious, but with 30% less fat than regular ice cream, it’s also a healthier alternative."

I've tried to keep it healthy other than my new gelato obsession. I'm allowing myself to have whatever I want though. For cookies, I bought Kashi Raisin Oatmeal Flax cookies, that way I get my cookies while also getting 600mg of Omega-3's and 4g of fiber, 12g of whole grains. 

I'm having my glucose test next week so  we will see how that goes!

Gender: Girl. I raided the sale section at babyGap this weekend! I love a good sale. Most of the pieces I bought were "final sale" price and the whole store was an additional 30% off!

Having a girl is so fun because girls = headbands! I received my order of headbands from a great Etsy shop called BabyliciousDivas. I'm going to do a post of my Etsy purchases soon. I've had really good experiences so far with the shops I've ordered from!

What I Miss: I really don't miss much. I'm ready for Dylan to be home! 

What I'm Looking Forward To: I'm looking forward to my appointment next week & my ultrasound that weekend! I can't wait to see her! 

Weekly Wisdom: I've been lazy the past few days, no real wisdom coming from this pregnancy brain!

Tank continues to claim my Boppy pillow for himself..

22 weeks vs. 25 weeks. She is invading my rib cage now & I can feel it for sure!

Along For The Ride..

In my last post I briefly mentioned the news that Dylan will be home for the birth of our baby girl. I didn't elaborate because honestly at the time, I was still in the midst of deciphering my feelings on the situation.

By not discussing it, I feel like I didn't let on to how excited & relieved I feel that he will be home. I also didn't let on to how absolutely thrown for a loop I started feeling at the news.

We prayed (and prayed and prayed...) that "they" would send him home early and in time to attend the birth. I spent many days with tears in my eyes as I looked at pictures of new dads with their babies at the hospital, wondering if Dylan would get to experience those first moments. I would pin articles about "Tips for new dad's for the first few weeks" and wonder if I should even bother reading. It made me sad not for myself, but for Dylan. I knew that I would be okay as I would be with our daughter, but I worried about him missing out on such a precious time in our lives.

I relied on my faith that however things went, that was how it is meant to be. If he was here, great. If he wouldn't be, we would be okay. It was the uncertainty that was and continues to be more stressful than the facts at hand. I don't do well waiting on the sidelines, swaying in the balance. I like to have a time line, a general plan as to when and how things will go. Especially being pregnant.

I've mentioned before that my hormones are really kicking into high gear. I cry at everything. Everythingggg. I cry when I think about the fact that I don't know where my baby will be born. Which hospital should I tour? How can I possibly make a birth plan when I don't even know which state I'll be in? A part of me hates that now when I go to my doctor appointments, I can't speak in confidence that I will be delivering with someone in that practice. Living in limbo is not fun, especially as my baby girl is limboing and cha-cha-cha'ing in my belly, reminding me that she is going to be here before we know it!

The hardest part is that I am not in control, Dylan is not in control. We know he will be sent home early, but our time frame as of now is so vague. We don't know if it will be soon, soon enough for me to move back to North Carolina, or towards the end after I can no longer safely travel.

My instinct is to say, don't you people get it? That this is something that takes some actual planning? Give us an answer! However, after years of living a military life, I have accepted that the military is their own breed and work at their own pace.

I try to remind myself that even though it seems like the military is the one calling the shots, it's really in God's timing. I am constantly reminding myself that our plan is already decided & that worrying and wondering isn't going to change a thing. I'm just incredibly impatient!

Either situation does not stress me or disappoint. Dylan and I both agree that both have their pros and cons. Our main desire was that Dylan be there, and whether it's in Atlanta or North Carolina, he will be. I remind myself to be thankful for this on it's own. It is in my personality to say, "Ok great..now on to the next thing to worry about...". I need to just stop and be grateful that our prayers were answered & a weight has been lifted.

I remind myself constantly at how lucky we are. My pregnancy has been a breeze. Seriously..sure, I had horrid morning sickness in the beginning but nothing out of the norm. I've had zero complications, I have a healthy baby girl, and a supportive family. Sure, I hate that all of her stuff is stacked in a pile with no where to go as of now, but at least we are able to provide for that "stuff". Family and friends have already been so generous with buying things that she needs. What a blessing to even have people in our lives that can do that for her. I think of all of the women in this country who are pregnant with zero support, emotionally or financially. Layla will be born into a world of love and I am so grateful for that.

britax travel system & 4moms infant tub from her grandpa!

There have been so many moments lately that I realize how much this little girl has already altered our life so much, and for the better. My mentality on so much has already shifted to thinking of her and our little family first and foremost. One main example is when I did learn that Dylan would make it home early. My first feelings were, well I'm going to stay here either way.  I already picked up and moved because you left & it's not fair to expect me to pick up and move again. A part of my initial reaction was selfish anger. I felt like here I am, pregnant and "alone" (not really alone, I have family and friends..but without my husband). I found a great OBGYN practice that I was excited to dive 100% into. I was excited to plan a hospital tour and sign up for classes at the hospital. It was nice to not feel like I was in transition. There are so many changes going on in my body and mind during this pregnancy, it felt nice to feel like my plan was established.

And then..it hit me. That this isn't about "my" plan..this is about our families plan. Where I would usually be stubborn and all about what I want, I have to take into consideration that this is just as important to Dylan, she is just as much his as she is mine. I would never want him to miss out on a single second, especially since he will already have missed these months of feeling her move around in my belly.

So we will see, I can plan everything in my mind, worry, stress, and none of it would change a thing! So I guess for now, we are just along for the ride..

24 Weeks

How Far Along: 24 weeks. Officially 6 months pregnant! She is approx. 12 inches long and is on her way to becoming a little chunky monkey!

How I'm Feeling: Some days I feel like we've come so far (which we have!) and some days I feel like we still have so far to go. I am still enjoying this phase though, she is more and more active every day! I am also feeling excited and relieved because we found out this week that Dylan will be home from deployment early & in time for Layla's birthday. God is good!

Weight Gain/Loss: Haven't weighed since my last doctor's appointment, but I would say I've gained judging by the pictures I just saw of myself! I can mainly see it in my face in pictures, and I can tell I'm a just a little bigger everywhere else.

Cravings: Halloween candy! Ha. I'm balancing out my candy consumption with lots of vegetables. My appetite is never ending. I think I'm in trouble with all of the holidays coming...I'll be whale status in no time!

Gender: Girl. I am so excited with some little things I found at my favorite flea market to go in her nursery!

What I Miss: not much...maybe a good bottle of vino & sleeping on my back. 

What I'm Looking Forward To: Finding out when Dylan will be back. We have to plan whether or not I will move back to NC or stay in Atlanta. It will all depend on how late in the game they send him home..

Weekly Wisdom: Start collecting nursery items early. It's been less overwhelming and more fun for me to find random things while I'm out and about. It never fails, if I'm looking for something last minute I will not be able to find it! I want her room to feel collected, not bought. A good flea market is a great place to find some cool little things! Here are a few things I bought this weekend..

Vintage White Frame:: I'm planning to add a decorative "L" or monogram.

Small grouping to go on a shelf by her dresser!

My Hopes for You:

As I feel you move and kick around in there, I grow more and more curious as to what you're sweet face looks like and what it will feel like when I meet you for the first time. Based on your 18 week ultrasound profile I feel like you have your daddy's nose and my lips! Your dad and I both hope you get my green eyes but I will love your brown eyes too. You seem to have some long legs which you got from me! Your great grandpa was very tall, so your second cousins and I all seemed to inherit that, and now so did you. I can't wait to see you in a few weeks at your next 3D ultrasound. From what I've seen, we should be able to really get a good idea of what that little mug of yours will look like at birth!

I know we won't meet for a while longer, but I feel like I'm learning a little about your personality! Your daddy and I are both very stubborn and if I had to guess I would say that you will be too. There have been so many times you have been kicking and moving all over the place, but you stop once I try and record a video to send your dad! I know there is no way for you to really know, but it just makes me laugh imagining you being difficult. I probably won't be laughing too much at 3 AM with strong willed baby but that's okay! I think you will be funny, not in a loud obnoxious way, but in a witty way. I know you will bring so much light and laughter to our lives!

My hope for you is that you are smart like your daddy. He is so smart! I especially hope you get your math and science smarts from him, otherwise if you're like me you'll have to get lucky & get a teacher that likes you enough to pass you out of sympathy! Don't be fooled, I am better at writing,language, grammar, and spelling than your dad is so you could have that going for you! Maybe you'll get the best of both of us...fingers crossed! 

I think you have good taste in music. You always seem to kick around during a really good acoustic version of a John Mayer or DMB song. You may already know this, but I was not blessed with the gift of singing. Unfortunately your dad isn't much better, especially when it comes to knowing the words. We still like listening to all sorts of music though so I'm sure you'll get your fill of different genres as you're growing up. 

Style wise, I think you're in the clear. I hope you grow up to have more of my sense of style, but if you end up preppy like your dad that's okay too. I can't wait to have a shopping partner! Your little wardrobe is being collected as we speak & I know you will get so much more from our family and friends. 

Whoever you are, I know that we will love you beyond measure! I already love you so much and my love grows for you with each passing day. You have been a great little sidekick during this deployment & I am so grateful for you in every way. I think you will be a beautiful, funny, and smart little girl and the perfect addition to our lives! 

23 Week Survey

How Far Along: 23 weeks which according to BabyCenter.com:

"Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about the size of a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb."

She is kicking around to John Mayer (her favorite) and DMB right now!

How I'm Feeling: I'm really enjoying this phase of my pregnancy! I feel great physically and I look pregnant but haven't reached uncomfortable whale status. It's so fun being able to feel her move around in there, and I'm usually able to tell when she's sleeping and when she's awake. Emotionally, I think my hormones are starting to make me feel a little "off" sometimes but I think it has a lot to do with Dylan being gone. Usually when I feel sad, Layla will kick around and remind me that life is good and we are blessed beyond belief. 

Weight Gain/Loss: I had gained around 3 pounds from my 18 week to my 22 week appointment. The midwife suggested that I just try and eat more often, even if I'm not hungry. I'm still only up 3-4 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight and should be gaining around 1 pound/week from this point on. (Baby girl is gaining 6oz/week now!).I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself! 

Cravings: I'm still liking spicy foods and sweets. I feel like I have to have at least one sweet thing per day! My sweet stash is running dangerously low..a trip to the store may be in order!

Gender: Girl. I can't wait to meet her & watch her wrap Dylan around her finger. 

What I Miss: Sleeping comfortably, but I might as well shut up about it since I still have a ways to go! My sweet friend Kelley gave me a gift certificate for a prenatal massage & manicure pedicure @ Natural Body. I am saving the massage for when my hips are REALLY killing me (which probably won't be too far off from now). I woke up early today because of sore hips and stretching pain under my boobs. Minimal complaints for what has been such an easy and healthy pregnancy so far!

What I'm Looking Forward To: I am so anxious for her 3D ultrasound! It feels so far off from now. I'm so curious to see if I can tell whether she looks like Dylan or myself. 

Weekly Wisdom: Ok, my hope in maternity clothes may be restored. Thanks to Pinterest I was lead to ASOS . They offer free shipping on maternity (and non-maternity) clothes that I would actually wear! I think I may have even found a dress for my baby shower. Prices vary, but I have found some really affordable pieces that I plan on ordering soon. (Like, a tunic top for $17!)

Moby Wrap vs. Baby K'Tan Carrier

 So today I braved a grand opening of a new baby/kid consignment store & scored a Moby Wrap as well as a Baby K'Tan carrier. I've read a lot of great reviews on both and was able to buy both at a steal. ($16 a piece, both retail for around 50 bucks each!)

I'll preface this by saying that I personally would only buy certain items used, especially for an infant. I know myself, and since Layla will be my first born, I am going to be a nutty first time mom and stay super weird about dirty things touching her skin. (Especially in the beginning!)

Both of these wraps are machine washable and I will be washing them (probably more than once) before she is here. They came very nicely packaged, and the Moby was still in box with instructional manual, etc.

Moby wrap

With that being said, I wanted to give my opinion on both wraps/carriers.
*If you haven't noticed, I'm using a spaghetti squash as my baby model. I'm sure a real baby would be a lot better but hey, I don't have one just yet so squash baby it is.


Moby Wrap: mobywrap.com

I read a lot of moms raving about the Moby so I decided to give it a shot. I was surprised when I pulled it out of the box that it is literally one, gigantic, long piece of fabric. My initial reaction was, Oh Shit. I thought for sure that it would be super complicated and annoying to figure out. I watched one YouTube video and figured out the basic Newborn Hug position fairly easily (see Squash baby in the picture). I feel like I will keep practicing, but that position will be the first and most important one to master. Granted, Squashy doesn't weigh a lot but the wrap was really comfortable to wear! I wore a Baby Bjorn a lot when I was a nanny and I really found it uncomfortable and probably not too comfortable for the baby either. I feel like a baby would feel really secure and comfortable in the Moby. Plus, everything I've read said it's great to wear while you nurse which I can see how that's true. Another positive is that it is one size fits all, so Dylan and any relative can wear it without having to adjust straps, etc. My only negative that I can say at this point is that it is a lot of extra fabric. I have to wrap it around my body a few times which isn't a huge deal, but I can see why some women say it gets really HOT especially in the warmer months. Also, when trying to get it on the ends of the fabric drag the ground for a second. To most people this would seem irrelevant but for me, having 3 fur babies means whatever touches the ground is bound to pick up some dog hair.


Ok, next up...


Baby K'Tan Carrier: babyktan.com

Baby K'Tan Carrier

This is the carrier I originally had on my registry. I had registered for black but for 16 bucks, I'll take eggplant. Dylan says he doesn't care what color it is, and knowing him he will probably wear it no problem. The K'Tan comes in two pieces, the loops that go over your shoulders and then what they call the "seatbelt", the thick band that goes around the front and ties around your back. As far as putting the carrier on, it's a little easier than the Moby just because you aren't lost in a sea of fabric. You put the loops around your head, slip your arms through each one, and you're basically ready to put baby in. The "seatbelt" isn't always necessary but it adds support. You can wear the K'tan several ways as well, but for today I just tried to get the hang of the Kangaroo (for newborns) and the Hug positions. My main plus for the K'Tan is that it is so much less fabric wrapped all around my body! It seems like it would be easier to put on if I were out in public and not able to have the Moby fabric dragging all along the parking lot, etc. A con for the K'Tan is that I think it may be just a smidge harder to adjust..it seems like the material gets a little twisted around in the back but nothing really annoying. And who knows, I may be doing something wrong. It will take some practice to get a good grasp on both.

Overall, I think both are great. I would suggest either trying out a friend's or finding one or two for a steal so that you can see what you think is best for you. I can see where some people would hate these types of carriers and want something you can just buckle on. It depends on what you want their primary use to be; if you plan on doing a lot of baby wearing or if you would only use a carrier if you were out and about.

I like these because you can nurse hands free either sitting down or if you wanted to try and, I don't know, feed yourself? They are both really comfortable as well. I forgot I was wearing them at one point and then realized I was walking around with a freaking spaghetti squash strapped to my chest. Don't mind me, just a crazy pregnant lady over here.

I'm going to hold on to both and see what I end up liking the best once an actual baby is here. No offense Squash child. Who knows, I may switch back and forth as she grows.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 

-Hebrews 11:1

I feel like I have been busy and not busy all at the same time lately. Life has settled into it's "new normal" and for that I am grateful. Some days my normal is running around nonstop while other days are spent laying on the couch feeling & watching our little girl practice her karate kicks and punches in my tummy. I have to admit, sometimes those days at home are my favorite. 

My hormones are causing my emotions to be all over the map. I burst into tears yesterday reading a strangers birth story on her blog. I like to read out loud whenever I can so that Layla can hear my voice and literally, I felt like the biggest idiot for having to stop every other line to hold back tears. I think the kicker was seeing all of the photos of her husband with their new baby after the birth. Dylan and I have talked and both pray that he is able to be here for Layla's birthday but we both know that it's out of our hands. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I know that God has a plan for us & that our path is already determined. Of course I want Dylan here for support and to share in such a special time in both of our lives, but I really want him to have that moment for himself. I want us to both remember what it feels like to meet our daughter for the first time, I don't want him to have to imagine what it must have felt like. 

However it ends up, all will be fine. 

I'm just living on faith.  Sometimes I still feel like I need to pinch myself. I am so blessed to be pregnant and then to take into consideration how easy my pregnancy has been so far is overwhelming to me. I always imagined this time in my life but can't believe I'm actually living it right now. I am trying to soak in every new experience and step along the way. 

Today I had my first appointment with my new OBGYN practice. I was referred by a family friend and was excited that they have a lot of midwives on staff in addition to their OBs. I felt a little nervous before hand as I knew it was a bigger practice than my previous doctor's office and I had made the mistake of reading some negative reviews online. (Side note: I think reviews are helpful but I think most of the time the only people who take the time to write a review are people who are a bit scorned.)

One review said the particular midwife I was seeing today had broken her water without her knowledge or consent (Granted, she had been in labor for a long time). Great. I pictured a pushy, know-it-all midwife and felt really apprehensive as I went to the appointment. 

At my appointment, I could not have imagined a nicer midwife! She was seriously a dream come true. She is pregnant with twins and our due dates are two days apart so unfortunately I know she will not be the one on call when it comes to my delivery, but I was pleasantly surprised at how relaxed she made me feel. Like, maybe if we weren't both pregnant we could go grab a glass of wine together. The practice encourages that I meet all of the midwives by having appointments with all of them, as it just depends who is on call when I go into labor. I'm hoping I like the other's as much as I liked Christine from today. 

I have gained approximately 3 pounds since my 18 week appoint which I am happy about. My total weight gain is around 4 pounds, which Christine did not seem worried about. She did say to just try and eat more..even if I am not hungry. Gaining weight seems like an easy problem to solve, but it's tricky when you want to continue to eat healthy and not just high calorie junk. I want to gain healthy weight that will support baby and myself, and gaining unhealthy weight will only make for a harder delivery and raise my risk for gestational diabetes. A part of me believes my body will hold on to what it needs to, so I am not going to become obsessive with my eating. I feel that as long as I am eating healthy and consistently throughout the day I should be fine!

My next appointment is 4 weeks from today. I will get all of my registration and pre-admission paperwork for the hospital at that visit. I guess that means that this baby will actually really be here eventually!

I told my mom and friends that I feel like February will never come, let alone the day she is born. It's like her birth is this imaginary event that I will only wonder about and talk about..forever. Then she kicks, punches me, demands Trader Joe's Dunkers and reminds me that she is growing like a weed in there and will be here before we know it! My heart literally swells when I imagine the day I (and hopefully Dylan) get to see her sweet face for the very first time. 

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. 

(Exodus 14:14)