.... and counting

Baby Shower Number Two, First Baptist Church Ben Wheeler

Perfect size, handmade quilt. I LOVE this blanket.

Another handmade, tiny little jacket

Super frilly dress from Grandma "D" (which is what Chris' mom

wants to be called)

Chris' mom, Chris grandmother, me and my mama

 

 

I share these pictures because one, reading all these words sometimes, without pictures, is boring ( I know this....) and two, I know you want to know what's going on in my world. At least, I guess you sort of do, or you wouldn't be checking in on me here. BUT, I am seriously feeling huge these days. And I wish I was one of those "it's all belly" kind of gals, but I've gained weight everywhere. From my baby toe to my triple chins. Bah, I'm really trying to work past the point of not looking like myself these days, but it's hard.

 

It's taken me nine months to but on these almost 40 pounds and I'm wondering if it'll take nine months to get it all off. Plus the additional ten pounds that I weighed when I got pregnant.... Um, that's fifty pounds and it sounds like a lot.

 

...

 

In other not so whiney, self-deprecating news, my sister has convinced me to have a garage sale this weekend, SO... of course at 37 weeks pregnant that's what I'm doing. On Labor Day weekend. She's helping me. And my mom is helping me. And I recruited a sophomore from the youth group at church to help me. So, I'm hoping for a smooth day. Yes, one day is all I can handle. I'm not doing an all weekend sale. We have an entire room packed with furniture and boxes and stuff to sort through, which is why I'm taking off work Friday: to sort and price with my sister. Hopefully, this won't take all day long because I'd like to organize, sort and put away more baby things. Hang some stuff. Rearrange. Again...

 

So, that's what's upcoming.

 

This last weekend, however, was just as cram-packed. I can honestly say, going to work is sort of a relief from it all! At home I'm constantly cleaning, washing, preparing, cooking meals to freeze and running to and fro.

 

Saturday was my baby shower at church. We are so blessed and this little girl is already so loved. Chris said our living room looked like Babies-R-Us exploded. I just have to find a place to put it all!!  I am grateful, but it's overwhelming. Diapers and wipes are stacked to the ceiling. And, while it is my current plan to cloth diaper most of the time, I know we'll need disposables every now and again, especially during those first two weeks. I'm not even going to try to cloth diaper a newborn. Plus I hear that early poop is disgusting!!!!!!!!!

 

Add the shower gifts to the boxes and bags of things my mom brought over for the garage sale and viola, we could open our very own thrift shop. Additionally adding to the "this is just life" feeling is the fact that our pastor and his family are leaving our church and moving to pastor a church in San Angelo, Texas. September 1st is their last Sunday. And of course we wanted their chest-of-drawers (cause you know we didn't have one) and of course we wanted the day bed their daughter decided to leave behind. You know, I just liked it better than the one we had already taken out of storage and hauled to our house from my mom and dad's...

 

Yesterday, Chris and I led worship, where I found it terribly hard to sustain any note longer than a half note. My breath support was minimal and I struggled to stay on top of each word- spitting them out, before gasping for another breath. I think I'm done for now with that whole singing thing. I have to get control of my lungs and diaphragm back! After church we rushed to our final birthing class at the birth center. This session was on everything AFTER baby is here.

 

Daily, as I scratch things off my "to-do list" I add three more. I am trying to have our house completely stocked for those first few weeks when I don't leave and don't want to explain to Chris what shampoo I'm needing or where to buy my face lotion. I'm buying more toilet paper, paper plates, contact solution, hand soap and laundry detergent than I ever have in my life. I'm trying to have all those "just in case" things on hand as well: herbs, supplements, ice packs....

...

 

Tomorrow night is our final session with our doula and Wednesday our weekly midwife appointments begin. Not much longer now!

Ninth Month

We have approximately one month until our little girl arrives. That's it. Could be sooner, could be later, but our forty week mark is one month away. Next week I start my weekly visits to the midwife.  I am still feeling really good, I just get worn out a lot quicker, like on Saturday's when I try to cook, clean, play, shop and I'm on my feet all day. No good.

I'm ready. For the most part- as ready as one can be for this sort of life changing event. Chris has been begging to install the car seat for weeks now, so I might just let him do it.... after September 1st!

I've washed sheets and clothes and have my initial cloth diaper stash bought. Although they are not washed yet.... And they are supposed to be anywhere between 3-6 times before the first use. Chris has put me on a cloth diaper buying hiatus. For now. My sister saw my stash last weekend and asked, "So, are you going to use disposable diapers ever? Do you have any disposable diapers anywhere?" Yes, I know I need disposables and yes, I do have some- three boxes to be exact, all received as gifts. I'm just waiting to see if I get any more before purchasing some, that's all. The ladies at church are throwing me a shower Saturday.

Besides getting all of my underwear and socks out of the bassinet in our bedroom (which means buying a chest of drawers) I think we are all set. And really I don't think she's going to care if all my bras are piled on the floor next to a mountain of socks...

Someone asked me last week how much longer, and I said five weeks. To which she replied, "so, any day now." No, not any day now. Five weeks. As much as I can't wait to meet our little girl and see what she looks like and hold her for the very first time and watch her respond to her father's voice after all this talking he'd done to my belly--- I've still got five weeks. Actually, anytime after 37 weeks would be fine with me. As if I have a choice in the matter.

Do I look like I'm due any day now??? I guess I am pretty belly-ish. Which makes the fact that I still go walking on the treadmill at the gym hilarious. I know those people getting their fitness on have to think, "What the ????" But I just want to stay moving, that's all. And I have a pretty sedentary job.

Oh, and I need a baby book. Like a keepsake book. But I am pretty particular and have no idea where to look, besides online. But, I'm not really sweating it, I have my journals I've been keeping during pregnancy AND my sister bought me this One Line a Day Five Year baby journal, which is pretty cool. For someone like me. Chris said it sounded overwhelming.

Baby you are so loved by so many friends and family you have yet to meet. We all can't wait to see you for the very first time!

This is My Life

My Texas summer has remained pretty uneventful, except for the fact that I'm pregnant. Which is pretty much all I think about: the arrival of this little girl.

Chris goes back to work next week, as a math teacher in Tyler. Kids don't start until August 26th, but we are coming up on that pretty fast too. I feel like I've been pregnant forever, since I have been pretty much since we moved back to Texas. For the most part it has flown by, however, I'm sure once the calendar is flipped over to September I'll be counting down the days.

Here are some things which fill my thoughts, time and energies these days.

1. Cloth diapering. I haven't even given it a try yet, but I'm so addicted to the idea. I've read so many reviews and tried to learn the jargon: flats, pre-folds, all-in-one, snappies, gussets. Then there are so many different brands. Not only of cloth diapers, but of detergents (DO not use the wrong ones!!) and diaper creams (that are cloth friendly... again don't use the wrong ones!). I have started a stash, but keep finding myself wanting to buy more, different, kinds. I do plan on using disposable the first two or three weeks in order to maintain a little sanity, so that I don't have too much new too soon, and for that nasty early baby poop.

2. Placenta Encapsulation. (say what??!!!)  I've been avoiding "going there" since Chris and I hadn't really made a decision and had just been reading and doing research and talking with people. BUT, we are going to take the plunge. Well, I am really the one taking the plunge, taking placenta pills after the birth of our daughter. Consuming the placenta is thought to help with postpartum depression, supply much needed energy, help balance hormones and increase milk supply. Weird? Gross? I'll give it a try.

3. Meditation and Stillness. I've started preparing my laboring soundtrack. Well, I actually have three playlists now. I have no idea what I'll want to listen to, if anything at all, during all of this--- so, I've made a few different iTunes playlists. Last night I worked on massage/ meditation music: ocean waves crashing, running water, stuff like that. Again, who knows what I'll want when the moment is here. I've also been trying to be diligent in listening to my Pregnancy and Childbirth CD which simply leads me through guided imagery and affirmations.

5. Vitamin/ Supplement Regimen. With just six weeks left until my due date, I'm seriously cracking down on my supplements. In addition to my prenatal, calcium and probiotics which I've taken through out my pregnancy I've now added iron, potassium, magnesium, fish oil, and alfalfa. AND... another outlandish, totally bizarre thing I'm doing is eating dates. Lots and lots of dates. Ok, actually 4-5 a day, but this can seem like a lot after days of consuming dates. A study revealed that those women who ate dates had a shorter labor. Not sure if there is any truth to this, but it's worth a shot. I discovered in further reading that Muslim women have believed in the power of dates for centuries.

6. Keep Moving. In addition to my treadmill walking (which is getting terribly slow and painful) I intend on weekly visits to my chiropractor once more. I get really bad round ligament pain in my lower belly when I pound that treadmill for more than 20 minutes. Which sucks, cause my lungs and my heart feel fine, it's just that big belly stretching out! That's when I move to the stationary bike. Which I'm sure is really ridiculous to see--- whatever. I'm staying active dang it! I've still been pain free- no aches or tension.

7. Limitations. Some things are getting ridiculously hard. These (unfortunately for Chris) include loading/ unloading the bottom rack of the dishwasher and unloading the dryer. Tying my shoe- forget it. Bending down to rub our dog Bella's belly- not happening. I can still squat really well though, so that is the option I usually go for.

Baby girl is active and growing and probably 5-6lbs now. We really won't know since we won't have additional sonograms. She's also had the hiccups three times in the last three days which, while I find cute, makes me feel bad for her. Poor thing.

Chris has been able to see and feel them as my belly jumps and pulses. It's still all sort of surreal. Even as I wash baby clothes, and crib sheets and put cloth diaper approved diaper creams in my cabinets and breast pads under my sink, I think, wow. Wow, there will be a baby here soon. Our baby, living in this house. Wow.

Baby Shower (and my ever increasing size...)

A sleep sheep, from my mother-in-law. It plays four sounds: a heartbeat, ocean, rain and.... a whale? The whale is sort of creepy to me. But, maybe not for baby girl.

Opening a gift from a far away friend. Yes, that is a onesie that says "kale" with a picture of

kale on it. LOVE IT. She also got me a blackberry one too!

Big. Just plain ole Big.... With 7 weeks to go...

Lora, Me and Alaina with baby Micha Jo. (Micha will be exactly one year older than our little girl.

She was born Sept. 18, 2012 and I'm due on the 22nd. It's hard to imagine my baby that size in only

one year. She's not even here yet and I'm sad about how fast time will fly.

Hostesses: Lora, Chrissy, and Alaina

My mama and me and my belly

Just the two of us (for now...)

 

** Did you notice my crazy lazy left eye in these pictures, that I mentioned in my previous post? Now, go back and look. It's so sad. My eye. I call it my sad eye....