In case you're wondering...

I'm pretty sure I look like this nowadays.

In particular, the picture of the belly in the top right hand corner.

Yep, I catch my shirts doing this multiple times a day.

Please don't judge me.

 

I'm also pretty sure conversations similar to this one have taken place.

 

A Little Tease

My friend and photographer, Lauren Vaniver, so graciously spent her Saturday afternoon taking maternity pictures of JP and I. Her trusty sidekick was quite the source of entertainment as well. ;)

She sent me a few sneak peeks and I must admit, I'm in L.O.V.E.

I cannot wait to see what else this girl can do!!

Thank you Lauren and Clint.

You guys are the best!!!

xxoo

32 weeks!

Our sweet Ellie girl is 32 weeks today.

 
The books say she should weigh about 4 pounds and be around 17 inches long, although we obviously can't take that too seriously anymore. I should be gaining about a pound a week and at least a half of that goes to our little babe. All in all, she looks like a real baby (as opposed to a fake baby, right?).  She's simply plumping up! However, she has also become sensitive to temperatures. Whether it be hot or cold, she would probably react (aka kick me!) to anything super cold or hot being on my belly. I promise to not torture you baby girl. :) -- Love, Mama

How far along? 32 WEEKS!

Baby's size? a squash

Total weight gain: 24 pounds

Maternity clothes? Yes!

Sleep: I slept in until at least 8:00 the last few mornings. This is rare, but definitely appreciated. I pretty much get up every night to pee at least 3-4 times, sometimes 7 or 8 times. It's fun.

Best moment(s) this past week: There were so many great moments this week! Thanksgiving was absolutely perfect. We had brunch with my in-laws and then spent the afternoon with my family. Loved every second but I was SO done and full by the end of the day. Totally worth it though. We spent Friday night watching our Devils DOMINATE UofA. As much as I despise watching football, it honestly was a good game. This is a rare comment; don't take it for granted, JP! We took our maternity photos on Saturday and I'm super excited to see the results. Lauren is absolutely amazing and we love her work! We also got TONS of work done on the nursery. Pictures to come!

Miss Anything? Sleeping on my stomach. And red wine. Still.

Movement: All the time. :) Still loving all her movements. She doesn't get up into my ribs too often anymore, thank you sweet baby Jesus. Either she's starting to get the hiccups more frequently or I'm noticing them more. Finally, our girl absolutely LOVES the right side of my stomach. You can almost always tell that she is on my right side. Sometimes she curls up into a little ball and pushes her butt out as far as it can go. It's really quite amusing, although not super comfortable. I swear, the left side of my stomach (the one you see in the belly pics) is so much smaller than the right.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really. Still not fond of meat for the most part.

Cravings: The only thing I constantly want these days is the caramel apple cider from Starbucks. It's becoming a real problem.

Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks contractions come and go. I usually have a few a week.

Gender: GIRL!

Symptoms: I continue to feel exhausted and could easily sleep for 12 hours a day if I had the time. While I feel like I eat quite a few times a day, I get full rather quickly. I think my stomach is running out of room. The frequent cramping and bathroom trips never cease to disappoint.

Belly Button in or out? I think it's technically out. Although it's not super popped out. I am beginning to think it may continue to stretch and eventually sort of disappear.

Wedding rings on or off? on :)
Happy or Moody most of the time: Super happy!

Looking forward to: Finishing the temporary nursery. I'm pretty much doing everything we would normally do minus the paint. Since we could be in the townhouse for as little as a month or up to 4 or 5 months, there is no point in painting her room. We'd just have to repaint it for our renters. So, the white walls remain for now. I'm also VERY excited for my shower next weekend!

32 weeks: Mama

In case y'all were wondering, I did make it my mission in life to do the board correctly this week.
 

32 weeks: Ellie

Happy Turkey Day!

Every year I feel like a lucky girl.

Every year I feel super blessed.

Every year I feel like it's better than the last.

Every year I'm so thankful and count my many, many blessings.

Every year I think, "Things couldn't possible get better."

 

But you know what, friends?

 

They do.

 

I am SO, SO happy.

 

Yeah, things may get stressful at times. I panic and let my anxiety get the best of me. I worry things won't work out, but do you know what? They always do. So, this year, I truly am more thankful than I ever have been. I can't imagine things getting better, but you know what?

 

They always do.

 

I'm thankful for so many things this season.

 

my sweet, kind, handsome, charming, funny, and loving husband.

my amazing mama.

beautiful friends.

a supportive family.

wonderful in-laws.

the most playful and spunky baby puppies.

(please note: they're not puppies anymore. I call all dogs puppies.)

a job that I'm passionate about and love.

a nice home (even though I can't wait to be in our new one!)

a country that I love.

our troops.

yummy food.

for being pregnant on Thanksgiving.

 

and last, but certainly not least..

 

a healthy and beautiful baby girl that will be gracing us with her presence in a month and some change.

(go ahead and let that one sink in for a minute...ONE month and some change. Yep.)

 

While I can't believe this is our last Thanksgiving as a family of two and I'm so grateful for all the wonderful holidays JP and I have spent together, I cannot wait for next year.

 

Because guess what?

 

It's going to be EVEN better!

 

and just in case you want a mental image of what may or may not happen to my belly button

by the time today is over..

 

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

 

31 weeks

Baby Girl is technically 31 weeks today.

But let's not forget that both her and I are measuring a little over a week ahead.

So, perhaps it's more like 32 weeks 1 day?

 

Anyhow, our sweet girl remains busy, busy, busy!

All of the books say she should be around 3 pounds or so and over 16 inches long. Apparently, our little over achiever has a mind of her own since she was 3 pounds, 10 ounces on Thursday. She is expected to gain about a half a pound from here on out.

 

Let's do a little math, shall we?

I'm (technically) 31 weeks.

If she continues to gain a half pound for the next 9 weeks or so, we're looking at 4.5 more pounds.

Give or take, obvi.

According to this equation, Eliana will weigh around 8 pounds or so at birth.

This is better than the 10 POUNDS my mother-in-law delivered with JP. Big babies run in his family, so it's to be expected. 8 pounds though; I (read: my lady parts) can (hopefully) deal.

 

Moving along.

Her immune system has significantly improved over the last few weeks and it continues to prepare for life outside the womb. However, breastfeeding will drastically improve her immune system over the first year. Which reminds me, I've had this reoccurring breastfeeding nightmare over the past couple of months. In my dream, Eliana (although she was a boy in last night's version) is here and we're super happy. Then all of a sudden an entire week goes by and I realize that I've forgotten to breastfeed her. She gets super sick all of a sudden because her horrible mother hasn't been feeding her. Since I didn't start breastfeeding right away, my milk dried up and I'm no longer able to breastfeed. The nightmare always ends there, but I seriously panic every time.
 Breastfeeding anxiety, ya think?

Her skull bones haven't fused together just yet and they are still soft. However, she DOES have hair, my friends. Great, great news!!  I didn't just read this in my baby books. We saw a nice good chunk of hair during the ultrasound on Thursday. Made JP's day, I tell ya.

 

Finally, we did learn that Eliana is in fact locked and loaded. She's headed down south my friends. Although, this is not to be confused with her being ready to go. She needs to finish baking! This is fantastic news though. If she were breech, c-section would be a good possibility, which I personally want to avoid at all costs.

How far along? 31 weeks

Baby's size? a pineapple. PINEAPPLE! You read this correctly. I know, it took me a minute too.

Total weight gain: 23.5 pounds! My appetite has been out. of. control. Therefore, I'm really not surprised by the 1.5 pound gain. Ellie is about go through a growth spurt (especially Thanksgiving day) as well, so I have a feeling I'll repeat this trend next week.
Maternity clothes? Yes! I really, really miss my wardrobe with the cooler temperatures though.
Sleep: Per my OB, I've been on antibiotics all week. Fortunately, they help me sleep. So, despite being super sick, I've actually slept better. I also took multiple naps each day this past week since I was home sick. I even slept for 8 hours STRAIGHT last night. True miracle, my friends. That hasn't happened in over 6 months.
Best moment(s) this past week:  Our detailed scan on Thursday definitely tops the list. While the extra fluid is still in Eliana's kidneys, we've realized that it IS going to be okay. She's healthy and growing. She's our sweet (BIG) little girl, with kidneys a little bigger than normal, not to be confused with abnormal. That's all. :)

Miss Anything? Being comfortable.
Movement: My little energizer bunny is still on the go. She of course slept pretty much the ENTIRE time during our ultrasound on Thursday. Later that night and every day since then, she's been back to her crazy self. Go figure.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Smells have become more intense and sometimes gross me out.
Cravings: Apple cider!! Have you ever had the Caramel Apple Spice (sans the whip) from Starbucks? I've been getting them for years, but this year, they're even better. I think I've had 1-2 each week for the past month, including this morning. I can't believe I'm about to admit this, but I woke up yesterday morning craving McDonald's breakfast. So, sure enough, we just had to stop during our house hunt yesterday morning. JP obviously wasn't complaining. Friends, I can't even tell you the last time I ate a McDonald's breakfast. 5 years? Maybe 10 years? High school? It reminds me of the once in a lifetime chance JP had to see me eat a cheeseburger back during 1st tri. So, the craving? A sausage biscuit, hashbrowns, and an orange juice. Worth every calorie.
Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks contractions have actually started this past week. The first time was last Sunday night and I've had them a couple more times since then. They're not really painful. My belly just gets super tight, it's hard to breath, and it feels like a super intense cramp for about 10, maybe 15 seconds or so. This isn't meant to be alarming, it's completely normal. My body is simply preparing!

Gender: GIRL!
Symptoms: Is all around uncomfortable considered a symptom? I feel large and in charge. Seriously, folks. I'm uncomfortable on and off all throughout the day. My belly is just SO big. I honestly can't imagine how much bigger it's going to get given the fact that I still have 2 more months to go. The leg cramps, BH contractions, and peeing every .025 seconds haven't gone anywhere either.

Belly Button in or out? It's not fully out, but getting there for sure. With a thin shirt on, it sort of looks like it's popping out all the way. In reality, the top part is popping out and the bottom part is still in. WEIRD.
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: Despite being sick and having my husband out of town on business most of the week, I'm still very happy and excited (and nervous). Oh, and EMOTIONAL:

 

I've been watching births online. Smartest idea? Probably not. However, I continue to get more and more nervous as we get closer to D-day. I'm not worried about being capable of taking care of a newborn. I'm more than ready and capable. However, labor and deliver absolutely terrify me, so this is my way of trying (keyword) to become more familiarized and "okay" with the process. Are the videos working? I'm not sure. However, I cry every. single. time.

Even though I should stop watching, I just can't.

Hi, my name is Brittany and I'm addicted to labor and delivery videos.

 

Looking forward to: My two-day work week. Granted, I only worked two days last week since I felt like I'd been run over a bus. Twice. However, it was really, really hard to make that decision because I've gotten the point where I HATE leaving my kids. I'm very selfish and protective over them. Unfortunately, subs just don't get the job done. So, I'm super excited for this week. I only work two days and my precious kiddos aren't being left with a crazy sub for the other three. I also may or may not be beyond excited to be pregnant on Thanksgiving.
 

31  weeks: Mama
I'm definitely 31 weeks - not 32. Baby Brain has gotten the best of me, AGAIN. Looks like JP will be photoshopping this one tomorrow. Again.

 

  

31 weeks: Ellie

This picture is actually very accurate according to Thursday's ultrasound. Ellie likes her hands up by her head when she sleeps (just like JP and I), she's head down, and her feet are crossed right up underneath my right ribs, which she never fails to let me forget.

 

What's in a name?

Eliana (Ellie) Grace

 

pronounced El-ee-on-uh

(not Alaina, Ellie-anna, or Alana)

 

It's of Hebrew origin.

It's common in Greek and Jewish cultures.

No, we're not Greek or Jewish.

 

It means God has Answered.

 

We first heard of Eliana in a baby name book. We both loved it and it was on our list of top 5 prior to finding out she was a girl. Once we realized she was a girl, we began trying to narrow down our list. We realized a few of our original choices wouldn't work for one reason or another. However, we were really drawn to names in which Ellie would be the nickname. Regardless of the first name, Grace would be her middle name.

 

We decided to look up the meaning to Eliana, which just so happened to be the same night we learned about the extra fluid in her kidneys. As soon as we read the meaning, we knew it was meant to be. We were sold. Our sweet baby girl would be named Eliana Grace.

 

So, there you have it, friends. As luck would have it, we've of course met or heard of people named Eliana since then. However, we're not budging. We love it and we're sticking to it! :)

 

Baby Girl Update

**Warning: This post is SUPER long, but I know friends and family have been waiting

for this update, so bare with me.**

 

We had our second detailed anatomy scan today. Our last anatomy scan (at 18 weeks) wasn't perfect, which left us nervous and anxious, yet excited to see Ellie's growth. Since we didn't share this news with many, let's backtrack for a minute (or ten).

 

During the first anatomy scan between 18-20 weeks, the techs check for a variety of things. They look to make sure all the vital organs are there and properly working, they determine the sex of the baby, check for any abnormalities (including down syndrome and other birth defects), they make sure the baby has ten fingers and toes, those sorts of things.

 

We loved the scan. We were able to watch her wiggle and move all over the place. We saw and heard her heartbeat. We learned she was measuring about a week ahead of schedule. While we didn't find out at the time (read about our reveal celebration, here), we learned that she was in fact a SHE. We loved every second of the scan. Until the tech came in and explained that the doctor wanted to talk to us via Skype. Our hearts sank. We knew this couldn't be good.

 

After explaining all of the things they look for, the doctor began to discuss the various "markers" they look for which imply there is a chance of the baby having Down Syndrome. He explained that she passed most of the markers with flying colors. However, there was one marker that stood out. Both of her kidneys were a little large due to extra fluid. He went on to explain that this can be a marker for Down Syndrome. However, since she passed every other "marker," he didn't think it was a big deal, but wanted to "make us aware of the possiblities." You just dropped a bomb on two first time parents. How can you expect us to not think this is a big deal? We of course freaked out and left the appointment heart broken. We later learned he did an awful job explaining the situation to us.

 

After hours and hours of research, we realized this truly wasn't as big of a deal as we originally thought. In fact, it is incredibly common and about 10% of babies have this same issue at their anatomy scan, although they failed to tell us this at the appointment. It's actually a "soft marker" and the marker to be the least concerned about. Our chances of Ellie having DS went from 1:800 to 1:600. While the odds increased, it's still incredibly unlikely given the fact that I'm healthy, within the perfect age range, and she has no other markers for DS.

 

Therefore, there are a variety of things the extra fluid may result in. The extra fluid often clears up by 30 weeks or so. Sometimes the fluid will remain until birth, but once the baby is born, it clears up on it's own. Then, at times it will remain. The baby simply has larger kidneys. This will sometimes result in absolutely nothing and again, clear up over time. Other times, it means the baby may be more prone to UTI's (urinary tract infections) when they're young. Basically, IF the extra fluid remains after birth, it's just something to note and it's good for the pediatrician to be aware of. They may monitor them using an ultrasound in the first few months just to make sure they don't get worse. In reality, this is pretty much the worse case scenario. In extremely rare cases, it could lead to other more serious kidney problems. However, it's incredibly unlikely and especially in our case given how there is very little extra fluid to begin with.

 

Fast forward to the appointment with my OB the following week. He was actually really upset that the doctor even brought this to our attention. He said that her kidneys should be around 4mm each, but her right one was a little over 5mm and her left one was around 6mm. He said it's really only considered abnormal if they're 8mm+ and needs super close monitoring if they're 10mm+. He was upset that the doctor got us all worked up over something he wouldn't consider an issue. After talking to him and all of our research, we felt so much better about the situation. We left the appointment reassured and a little more at ease. Although, it would of course remain at the back of our minds.

 

Fast forward to today. Again, we were so excited to see how much our little girl had grown. However, we were also nervous to see if her kidneys had grown. The scan went really well. Although little miss Ellie very much takes after her mama and was super stubborn. She's SO incredibly active all. the. time. However,  she decided it was time to sleep during most of the appointment. Go figure. I honestly tried to enjoy the appointment, but at the back of my mind, I was just waiting to hear how her kidneys were doing. We of course asked about them and the tech said she couldn't say much, but that everything looked good. We requested to talk to the doctor, who wasn't in the office. So, we'd of course have to talk to him via Skype or phone. My favorite.

 

Once on the phone, he seemed confused as to why we'd even be interested in the kidneys. We explained that the last time we were in the doctor totally freaked us out. He apologized and was surprised to hear the doctor even mentioned it (this guy reminded me a lot of our regular OB). He said that her kidneys do still have a little extra fluid in them, but he wasn't at all worried. He went on to explain the same conditions that can happen as I mentioned before. He didn't even mention the Down Syndrome. I brought this up and he again seemed surprised and explained that he wouldn't even think to mention the DS. He definitely didn't think that was the issue and instead said she looked healthy, she simply might have kidney's a little bit bigger than normal. Although he still wouldn't even consider it abnormal, unless they were 7-8mm+ and even then, he said it's not always a big deal. In fact, he had 5 other ultrasounds today alone with the same result. That common.

 

We left the appointment feeling SO much better. We're very confident that our Baby Girl is healthy and growing away. In fact, today I am 30 weeks 4 days, but Ellie is measuring 31 weeks 5 days. A week ahead of schedule in size, which doesn't surprise me given the size of my basketball, I mean...belly. I am measuring close to 32 weeks, folks! I'm not wrong on my dates. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee the date and time this little girl was conceived (TMI? lol). So, she's simply going to be a big baby. Again, we already knew this. Not only is she measuring a week ahead, but she's 3 pounds 10 ounces. Holy Baby!

 

Anyway, I know we've had friends and family praying for our sweet girl and I just want to thank you!! While she didn't lose the fluid, they remained about the same size. The doctors aren't worried and wouldn't even consider it abnormal. Our girl is healthy and growing away!

 

Since she was so incredibly stubborn, we unfortunately didn't get any fantastic pictures of her. These 3D shots are 110% creepy, but still so fascinating. It's amazing what technology can do these days! These were the best ones we could get.

 

 

While we're 110% confident in her being healthy, we would love for you to still keep her in your prayers. We look forward to meeting our perfect little girl!!  

T-H-I-R-T-Y

THIRTY.

thirty weeks.

the big 3-0.

I. cannot. believe. it.

Where has time gone? I'm down to the final ten and in SEVEN weeks I will have reached full term. I'm going to be completely honest. I am sort of (or maybe big time) freaking out. Not just because her nursery isn't ready - although with every passing day it becomes pretty clear that we'll still be in the townhouse when Ellie arrives. I'm not looking forward to moving into a new house with a super newborn, but it is what it is. Anyway, I'm really freaking out because of how drastically our life is about to change. I'm not in denial. I knew it was coming. We willingly signed up for this and while we're excited, it's just a super overwhelming thought at the same time. It just got here so fast. SO fast, friends. I've never been responsible for another human for more than weekend (hello, nanny days!). While I feel more than 100% capable of taking care of a baby due to my experience, this is our baby. Am I ready for our baby to enter this world?! My heart will belong to her and she'll no longer be inside of me, with me at all times. This makes me nervous. Am I truly ready? I like to think yes. However, every once in a while the thought crosses my mind - holy life changing moment. We leave our home as a two person family and come home as family of 3 (plus the puppies!). Things are going to change soon, friends. REAL soon.

In another news, Ellie continues to grow, grow, grow! She weighs at least 3 pounds and is close to 16 inches long from head to toe. There aren't any drastic changes, other than all of her little baby parts continuing to grow. The langu that covers her body will likely start to come off this week in preparation for her big debut. As she continues to take up more space in my belly, the amniotic fluid she's swimming around in decreases.

How far along? 30 WEEKS!

Baby's size? cucumber (length wise, obviously not weight)

Total weight gain: 22 pounds

Maternity clothes? Yes!

Sleep: Honestly, I can't seem to figure out a pattern. Some nights it's great, others are awful. I sleep with my boppy every night and again, sometimes it works wonders, other times I want it to become my punching bag because I just can't get comfortable. Last night was the latter of the two.

Best moment(s) this past week: The 3-day weekend I'm currently experiencing is pretty freaking amazing. I also loved my lunch date with my best and spending time with friends Saturday night. :) 

Miss Anything? Being comfortable. And red wine.

Movement: All the time. :) Baby Girl is still cray-cray. Funniest thing ever happened this morning: I was laying on the couch with the iPad and Lily was laying on my HILL of a stomach. Out of no where Eliana decided it was time for Lily to go and kicked my stomach SO hard. Lily leaped off my belly and went running. Funniest. thing. EVER.

Anything making you queasy or sick: No, although I suddenly got turned off by my random olive craving. They taste too salty all of a sudden.

Cravings: Sweets! I bought a bag of white chocolate peppermint covered pretzels at Costco. It's huge. It was a mistake. I'm pretty sure they'll be gone by next weekend.

Labor Signs: nope

Gender: GIRL!

Symptoms: They are officially in full force as of this week. The exhaustion and desire to sleep all the time is making its way back into my life, although it's not near as bad as the 1st tri...yet. I can't seem to get comfortable - when I'm sitting, laying down, trying to sleep, all of the above. You should see me getting up from a chair or out of the Mustang (or maybe even off of the toilet during my one in 1,362 visits a day!); it's a process. I literally have to sort of hold my breath. Bending over to put on shoes or take off my skinnies, again, a process - a seriously uncomfortable one at that. Shaving my legs, also not as easy all of a sudden. Picking things up off the floor, I feel (and probably look!) like I'm going to topple over. I think I'm basically all belly, which is great, but it makes for one front heavy pregnant woman! Finally, my bladder has apparently become either Eliana's tap dancing stage or pillow, depending on which direction she's facing. The result? Peeing 1,362 times a day.

Belly Button in or out? I think it's still in, but the inside part is popping more and more these days. It's like a little turkey timer, I swear it's going to go off any minute.

Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: Stressed, anxious, and happy. Happy, stressed, and anxious. Overwhelmed. I'm just a whole boat load of emotions I think. Take your pick.

Looking forward to: We have our second detailed anatomy scan this week on Thursday. I'm excited to see how much Eliana has grown. These ultrasounds are the best because we get to sit and stare at her for 30-45 minutes. She's such a little (ADD) mover that I'm really excited to see her moving on the screen and feel it at the same time. I've waited for this moment for a long time! We also get a ton of regular and 3D shots, again, awesome. I'm also looking forward to Thanksgiving break

 

30 weeks: Mama



*This is the edited version, thank you to my amazing husband!

30 weeks: Ellie

29 weeks

Baby Girl is 29 weeks and weighs over 2.5 pounds. She's at least 15 inches in length. Get the measuring tape out and take a look at just how long 15 inches is. It's SO long. While I know I have a baby currently hijacking my womb, it's still very abstract when I think about a REAL baby that's 15 inches and 2.5 pounds squirming around in there. I can't explain it, but I still find it bizarre.

 

Her muscles and lungs continue to develop. Her head continues to grow as well, making room for her precious (genius) little brain. Let's hope it's not as big as I'm envisioning though. Perhaps you may have noticed and if not, let me tell you - both mine and JP's heads are rather large. Put two and two together. Yeah!!  I honestly hurt just thinking about it.

So, let's hope Eliana's head isn't getting TOO big in there.

 

With the rapid weight gain and need for nutrition, it's essential that I get enough vitamins, particularly folic acid, calcium, protein, and iron. My biggest struggle has been calcium since I've always hated milk. However, I've since found a solution - Almond Silk Milk (vanilla). It is seriously delicious and I can drink it straight from the glass (surprised, Mom?!). This is HUGE news friends. I don't think I've ever enjoyed drinking milk and have actually avoided it at all costs other than when I eat cereal. Now, if only I can find a cure for the lack of protein.

How far along? 29 weeks

Baby's size? butternut squash

Total weight gain: 22 pounds
Maternity clothes? Yes!
Sleep: Overall, it's still just okay throughout the night. I've started waking up around 5:00-5:30 every. single. morning. I knew this point would come - the one in which my body begins preparing for sleepless nights when baby girl is here, but already!? It's a bit too soon for my liking.
Best moment(s) this past week:  On Friday afternoon we had an after school meeting (not your typical meeting) where we stuffed our faces, broke a pinata, played games, and just relaxed. It was a great way to end the week - am I the only teacher that feels like 4-day work weeks seem longer than the typical 5 day?  

Miss Anything? My best friends - and seeing them on a regular basis.
Movement: All the time. :) Friday night Eliana put on quite the show for JP. He feels her move all the time. However, on this particular occasion she was going crazy for a good 15 minutes and he was able to enjoy every second. He's so fascinated by her and I love watching him get so excited. He loves this little girl SO much. Melt my heart!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Food wise, nothing new. Although I haven't been feeling so great the last few days and I think it's finally caught up with me. I feel awful.
Cravings: Sweets! I've eaten way too much candy/dessert this past week. I don't know that I'm craving it more than usual or just that it's around more than usual. Either way, the scale is proof that I exceeded my limit. The fair food (don't judge me!) on Saturday didn't help this situation either.
Labor Signs: nope

Gender: GIRL!
Symptoms: The leg cramps are becoming more frequent. I try to stay hydrated to stop them from happening, but it's not really working. I've also had this leg issue a handful of times, with the first one being when we were on our babymoon. I never attributed it to the pregnancy, however, I've since learned that it's totally pregnancy related. I think I have something called Restless Leg Syndrome. It can sometimes occur during pregnancy and it typically goes away after birth. It's hard to explain, but basically I have an uncontrollable urge to stretch, flex, and relieve the tension and tingling feeling in my legs. It's not painful and it's really more annoying than anything because it happens when I'm resting and/or trying to go to sleep.

Belly Button in or out? I think it's still in, but the inside part is popping more and more these days. JP thinks Ellie is going to kick my belly one day and it's just going to pop right out. lol
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: I wish I could say that I was 100% happy like usual, but the reality is, I'm not. I'm so overwhelmed and stressed beyond belief, which I'm sure my hormones are playing a large part of. We don't have a house. There aren't any we can agree on. We don't have a nursery prepared for all of Eliana's things. I truly do wish I was one of those people that could just "let things go," but the reality is, I'm not. I'd also love to be someone that handles stress well, but my complete type-A planner personality doesn't mesh well with this idea. Stress and anxiety can cause labor. For our daughter's health and safety, we really need her to stay put for at least 8 more weeks.  Although, let's be honest, I'm really hoping she goes past her due date. She needs to finish baking, friends! So, please, please pray for Eliana and that all of the things overwhelming me aren't affecting her health and well-being.

On another note, my heart is also very heavy this week. I heard a couple different pieces of awful news this week. In each situation, a friend of mine is in pain. So, while it reminds me to not take my blessings for granted and to be thankful, I ache when thinking about others' pain and sadness.  I pray that each friend and their families find the strength needed to heal during these difficult times.

 



Looking forward to: I am excited for my shower, but it's still 4 weeks away. Although, this in itself stresses me out because I have no idea what we're going to do with all the gifts. Looking at the picture below reminds me of how excited I am to get my hair done on Saturday!!!!!!!

29 weeks: Mama

Excuse the lack of creativity and extreme hot mess look - I'm not feeling well.

 

29 weeks: Ellie