35 weeks

I'm in the process of prepping LBG's cloth diapers and it's totally overwhelming me (even though it's not hard!), so I shall take a break and do a survey...

How Far Along: 35 weeks! We have approximately one month left until we meet our baby girl!  

At this point she is at full length, just continuing to pack on those final few pounds. Her hearing is fully developed and she has started to notably respond to loud noises and my voice. She has seemed extra active ever since Dylan has been home, I'm wondering if she is responding to his voice as well. 

How I'm Feeling: Relieved! I feel like a million pounds have been lifted from my shoulder. Dylan is home safe and sound and has been such a help! We also received all of our baby shipments and I honestly can't think of anything else baby girl could possibly need!  

I have a lot to do as far as prepping and washing bottles, breast feeding pump parts/storage, etc. 

All of her clothes are washed and waiting to be hung! {Baby laundry is way more fun to do than adult laundry!} Although, I admit I'm being a total first time mom and being super neurotic about how and with what I wash her clothes/anything coming into contact with her skin.

Right now I'm using Seventh Generation Free & Clear....

I originally went with this detergent because it's cloth diaper safe. I know Dreft it is "the" popular baby detergent but I'm hesitant of anything with perfumes. My mom said Dreft reacted horribly with my skin when I was a baby. Detergent is totally a personal preference! 

I also ordered Babyganics Dryer Sheets from my registry...

I didn't realize these were scented when I ordered but they are hypoallergenic so I'm going to see how it goes! I can't use these with her cloth diapers but have used them for her clothes and blankets. Fingers crossed! I love the way these smell!

Overall, everything is coming together! It's so exciting to see her nursery start to take shape. The painter is coming this weekend to paint her room and then we can really get rolling. I can't wait!

Weight Gain/Loss: I am feeling bigger by the day although I'm grateful to be gaining steadily and seem to be right on track for a 1lb/week weight gain. I've up about 20 pounds overall!

Cravings: No real cravings but my friend Sarah introduced me to Chobani Flips & I am addicted to their key lime flavor with graham cracker & white chocolate chips! SO YUMMY! I'm sure I'll burn out on them but they've been 10/$10 lately so I stock up every time I'm at the store! 

It's been super cold in the mornings and I'm kind of burnt out on bagels & cream cheese so I've stumbled across this gem...

These have been BOGO the past few weeks so I've stocked up on these as well! They make a few different flavors, I typically like the original unsweetened just to keep it simple. I add a tablespoon or so of ground flax seed & then throw in some blueberries and cut up strawberries. YUM! I love steel cut oats but they take forever to cook on the stove. These are individual servings you throw in a bowl and microwave for 3.5 minutes. 

Gender: Girl ...I have had so much fun going through all of her stuff! We can't wait to meet her!

What I Miss: Dylan loves to grill, we don't eat red meat often (like hardly ever) but I miss having a medium rare steak! He grilled NY Strips last night and his looked so good while I ate my super well done steak. I also told him I'm looking forward to a good margarita!

What I'm Looking Forward To: Getting her nursery put together! Once the room is painted it should come together rather quickly. I'm also super excited to do our maternity photos! I'll be at the end of my 37th week by the time we have our session so at this point I'm just hoping to still be pregnant! 

I'm anxious to see whether or not she has flipped to head down (she had flipped back to breech position at our 34 week appointment). She has been super active and I can't tell exactly how she is in there. I'm oddly calm about either outcome, mainly because there really isn't much I can do about it. I feel like there are some pros and con's to having a c-section and also for a traditional delivery. I'm luckily not anti c-section so I'm able to just kind of go with whatever happens. My outlook is, however she comes into this world will be the way she was meant to come and we will have her in our arms either way! 

Weekly Wisdom: This last month feels like total crunch time! I would say to definitely use the prior months you have to do research and figure out how and what you plan on using as far as disposable/cloth diapers, detergent, breastfeeding, etc. Even though I've known what I am hoping to do, it's so overwhelming once everything starts arriving! I received my  breast pump and so far it's just intimidating me to even look at it. I'm grateful to have the time that I do (hopefully) to work my way through all of the stuff that needs to be done. Dylan doesn't read directions (this was proven as he tried to put her high chair together in about 5 minutes without reading the directions..which, shockingly didn't go well.) and I am the total opposite! Every thing I open I read the directions, read the care instructions, debate on "should I wash this??" (I always end up washing everything!). Baby stuff (bottles, breast milk storage containers, etc) all have to be boiled and prepped ahead of time so all of these little things start to add up! Give yourself time!

Letters for Layla.

To our little Layla Blaine...

You haven't quite arrived, yet you are already keeping us on our toes! Mommy had our 34 week check in and was able to sneak a peek at you (my favorite kind of visit!). I guess you decided being head down wasn't as fun as being heads up, you crazy girl. So, for now..you are one stubborn breech baby! Time's a tickin little lady...our midwife is giving you 3 more weeks to turn otherwise we are headed for C-section Town. I'm not worried, either way..you just do your thing in there!

Mommy is just happy that you are thriving and growing perfectly! Almost 6 pounds already and I'm wondering how much of that weight you are carrying in those chubby cheeks of yours! From one angle, all we could see was your cheek. I can't wait to kiss those cheeks and see your sweet face. 

Looks like mommy & daddy's thick hair gene has been passed along as well...you had your hands all wrapped up in all that hair of yours! I can't believe you have so much hair as I was born bald and I don't think Daddy had all that much hair either. Aren't you just fabulous?

I have spent the past few days going through all of your stuff & washing your cute clothes. I'm starting to wonder if some of these newborn size outfits are even going to fit! They look so tiny.

You have about a million boxes coming in this week...our house is quickly shifting into full on baby palooza and I love it! Even better, your daddy will be here to help me go through everything! He will be here in less than 48 hours..I still can't believe it. I can't wait for him to see and feel you in action! You have really been wild in there lately. I guess all of those "punches" to my cervix were actually your little feet! Are you stretching out those long legs?

I can tell your daddy is so excited to get home. He loves you so much! It's cute to see how much he wants to give you to make sure that you are a happy baby. He won the epic Mamaroo battle! I hope you love all five motions that it provides..he thought you should definitely have all five. Funny. I was trying to get you into a Rockaroo which only has one...oh no, what kind of sad life would it have been with only one motion? See..he loves you. 

You are coming into this world surrounded by people who love you so much! Everyone can't wait to meet you..especially us. I can't wait to see if you're as stubborn and crazy once you are born as you seem to be in there. 

I love you!

xoxo.

34 weeks.

How Far Along: 34 weeks, can't wait to meet our little lady!

How I'm Feeling: HAPPY! I had an amazing baby shower thrown by my two best girlfriends and mom. The amount of work and time they put into pulling it off was beyond words & I am so grateful!

Layla's Aunt Kelley, Aunt Sarah, and my mom "MiMi"

I'm feeling relieved to be typing this from my home in North Carolina & that I am finally here for GOOD! I'm feeling excited because this time next week, Dylan will have already returned home. I'm also excited to finally have all of Layla's stuff in one place!

Physically, I feel like for 34 weeks I have very minimal discomfort. Walking up the stairs is starting to make me out of breath and getting out of bed kind of goes, like 1...2...3...roll out. My energy level is still pretty high, especially now that I'm home and have a list a mile long of stuff I want to do as far as nesting.

Braxton Hicks contractions have increased which is normal. The night before my shower I started having sudden lower back pressure along with a not-so-pain-free contraction so I had a momentary freak out but I think it was just a random false labor pain & didn't happen again. I just keep telling Layla that she can't come yet!

She has definitely dropped and I feel it more so than noticing it physically. She can really pack a punch to my cervix! Her movements have become less quick and jabby and more just rolls and turns...but she still takes my breath away with some of her head butts/punches "down there". Ouch. She has the hiccups almost all the time..I always notice them first thing in the morning and then all throughout the day.

Weight Gain/Loss: I have my 34 week appointment in 2 days but as of my 32 week appointment I'm at about a 15 pound weight gain.

Cravings: No specifics...I'm trying to eat a balanced and healthy diet right now just to give baby as much as I can! Not to say I'm not having my little cheats..I did bring left over cookies & scones home with me from the shower!

Gender: Girl ...I keep walking into her room just to peek at all the sweet stuff in there! 

What I Miss: Not a thing..too much coming up to be excited about.

What I'm Looking Forward To: Doing our registry completion, setting up the nursery (it looks like a baby bomb went off in there right now), and having Dylan home! I have a few more days until he is home, so I'll be washing Layla's clothes and starting to organize everything as much as I can. I need to prep all of her cloth diapers..although we won't start with cloth right away, I know I will want them done ahead of time!

I'll have a growth scan ultrasound at my appointment on Thursday..hoping for a great report & looking forward to seeing baby girl.

Weekly Wisdom: Have confidence in yourself! I can't count how many people commented on how little my belly was at the shower. In the past, I would have been upset but I know that she is measuring right on track and that we are both healthy! Every pregnancy & baby is different & every momma will carry their baby however their body is structured to do so. Everyone I meet out in public comments on how small my belly looks & can't believe I'm so far along. I've learned to just let it roll off my back. I'm sure it would be the same way if people thought I had a huge belly. Pregnancy is a funny thing, strangers feel like they can say anything!

Just a few pictures from our shower...

Aunt Sarah! 

"you're too sweet"

Aunt Kelley's sweet cupcakes!

Katy & Rebecca, loved seeing these two!

By the time I post next, Dylan will be home...PRAISE THE LORD!

xoxo.

32 weeks.

How Far Along: 32 weeks! Layla girl will be here soon & I'm getting so anxious!

How I'm Feeling: This past week has been INSANE. My "relaxing" week at my house in NC turned out to be quite the opposite. I can breathe now, but the past week I felt incredible stress and anxiety which only gave me more stress worrying about our baby girl. I came back to our home excited to bring Layla's things into her room and relax only to find the house practically destroyed by our house sitter & his dogs. I couldn't and wouldn't bring anything of hers into the house the way it was when we arrived. It's been a really rough week but luckily my mom was here to help & it's basically back to how I left it.

I worried that I was pushing my body physically trying to tackle all of the cleaning & I felt so much anger and stress that my house was in the condition it was in.

I hired a cleaning service who did an AMAZING job cleaning every inch of my house. Carpet cleaners are coming tomorrow...so I feel better knowing I can now bring our baby into our home & it feels like ours again.

My original plans of when I would come back to NC were totally flipped upside down once we got here. My original plan of staying the week turned into a permanent stay. I've had to transfer back to my old OBGYN practice and move back ahead of schedule to allow time to get the house ready for Dylan's homecoming.

I am feeling every 32 weeks of this pregnancy this week. I think Layla is officially up to full capacity in there! Her movements are bigger now & actually painful at times. I'm starting to experience sciatic nerve pain which shoots down my left butt check & makes walking really uncomfortable. I can tell she's compressing my lungs when I'm walking & can even tell when I'm laying down relaxing that I'm short of breath. However, no complaints..I am glad she's growing and active! My mom says she thinks that Layla will be our "wild child" because of how active she is... She almost kicked my dinner plate off my belly last night! She makes me laugh watching some of her crazy moves!

Weight Gain/Loss: I'll weigh at my appointment tomorrow. I've been so busy the past week but I've been making sure to eat healthy and hit my daily calorie intake. 

Cravings: Sanity? A vacation? Gallons of wine? Rough week. 

Gender: Girl ...I'm getting so excited seeing all of her nursery decor come together!

What I Miss: Not much...I'm just getting so excited as these weeks tick by.

What I'm Looking Forward To: A LOT! My baby shower is in a little over a week & I am so excited! Dylan should be home shortly after which will be such a relief. I am so excited to share these last few weeks of pregnancy with him and spend time together. Layla's cloth diapers should be arriving in the next day or two, can't wait to see how cute they are! For all the negativity I have felt this past week, there is SO much to look forward to and I just pray that all continues to go well. Life is unpredictable, I've yet to completely learn the lesson that things don't always go as planned, but I am grateful for all of the support from friends and family! Only good things ahead...

Weekly Wisdom: Listen to your body. If you feel tired & exhausted you're probably doing too much. I know for me, especially when Dylan isn't here, I try and do everything myself and it's been hard stepping back and playing it safe. I can tell when I've pushed myself too hard, ie. when I was vacuuming like a mad woman and started having BH contractions. I'm a control freak & it's hard for me to slow down when I feel like there a million things that have to happen before our baby girl is born but... nothing is more important than staying healthy! I want her to "bake" in there as long as possible!