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

 

TWENTY-EIGHT

Eliana is 28 weeks.

We're less than 3 months from her due date.

2 months and some change.

Insert mini freak out moment here.

 

 

Eliana is filling out. She's close to 15 inches and over 2 pounds. Baby girl fills out = Mama fills out. Oh, joy! Please know that while I may make sarcastic and not so pleasant comments about weight gain, I also totally know that it's necessary for Baby Girl. My body is doing exactly what it needs to do in order for her to be healthy and I'm 100% okay with it - even if I end up gaining 40 pounds.

 

Eliana is constantly blinking and responds to light and dark outside of the womb. She's now producing estrogen, which stimulates my body to begin milk production. This should be fun. Hopefully my new found milk makers will refrain from resembling that of a milking cow until after birth.

Knock on wood, please.

How far along? 28 weeks

Baby's size? cabbage

Total weight gain: 20 pounds
Maternity clothes? Yes. I can still fit in quite a bit of non-maternity, but I worry about stretching things out. I finally bought a pair of maternity jeans today. It was not my proudest moment.
Sleep: On a scale of 1-10, I'd say it's an 8 with 10 being the best. This is much better than a couple weeks ago, which was maybe a 4 at most.
Best moment(s) this past week: This weekend was pretty great. We went to a Halloween party on Friday (pictures to come!). It was fun, but I'll be completely honest - Halloween parties just aren't the same without a drink or two. We also celebrated our 5 year dating anniversary. While the wedding anniversary will trump all, we enjoyed going out to dinner at the Melting Pot.

Miss Anything? If the above answer didn't give it away - I missed the jungle juice during the Halloween festivities.
Movement: All the time just like her mama! She's moving as we speak. :)

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing new. I'm getting better about adding protein (meat) to my diet, but I still can't stand the thought of a whole chicken breast and even worse, the smell while it's being cooked!
Cravings: I've been on an egg kick lately. I think I eat an egg salad sandwich for lunch almost every day.
Labor Signs: nope

Gender: GIRL!
Symptoms: Nothing new or crazy. The leg cramps are becoming more frequent though.

Belly Button in or out? It's still technically in, but continues to become more stretched out and flat.
Wedding rings on or off? on (although I do realize they're off in this picture)
Happy or Moody most of the time: I'm very happy! :)
Looking forward to: Passing out candy on Halloween. Annnd wearing my baby skeleton shirt on Halloween that I'm 100% obsessed with. I'll make a Halloween picture post later this week. Oh, and the pumpkin pie that's currently baking in the oven.

28 weeks: Mama

28 weeks: Ellie

Congratulations!

....to ME!

 

I passed my glucose test.

 

I honestly did not think I was going to pass. Those that know me know that I have a serious, serious sweet tooth problem. I always have, it's not new. I've tried to control it's since becoming pregnant (keyword: tried).

 

If having dessert (or candy) 3-4 times a week is "controlling" it, then I'm a rockstar. Really, I'd eat dessert every single day if I was okay with gaining 70 pounds during pregnancy.

 

Anyhow, I tried to lay off the sweets the weeks leading up to the test. It didn't work.

 

Two days before the test I went to a wedding. When they placed cake on the table. I found myself scanning the table of 50+ slices. Why, you may ask? I was looking for the BIGGEST one I can find.

I succeeded.
I don't even like cake.

 

Less than 24 hours before the test I had a HUGE snow cone (yeah, you're thinking ice? no big deal. wrong.). This particular snow cone booth let you put your OWN flavored juice on top. Big mistake. I'm pretty sure I put at least a cup of the fruit punch juice on top of my so called ice.

Oh...and this was the day before the test. Smart.

 

The day of the test, I was (finally!) able to lay off the sweets. For breakfast...and lunch.

 

Well, folks, it worked.

 

I now intend on rewarding myself with each of the following over the next week.

I specifically avoid the candy aisle at the grocery store because I know that I'd pick up a bag of these. An entire bag of these will not make it a week in our home. Oh, and JP doesn't eat eat candy corn.

The one on the left. Melt in my mouth.
Only, it's obviously missing the cone bowl.

 

A pumpkin spiced latte.

It's been almost two weeks and I'm straight up going through withdrawals.

 

Last, but not least, my all time favorite treat.

 

 

27 weeks: 3rd Trimester

Hello Third Trimester!!

 

I can't believe we've already reached the 3rd trimester. Some women say they feel like the time goes by slowly. I 100% disagree. I feel like it's flown by much, much too quickly. I know I've talked about this before, but it still saddens me and I think about it more and more often. I can't wait to hold our sweet girl, but at the same time, I don't want this time to be over. I definitely think I'm going to miss being pregnant. I'm going to miss feeling all of her jabs and high kicks - even the bad ones. I'm going to miss having her all to myself. Selfish, yes. But true. :(

 

The books say Eliana is at least 2 pounds and 14.5 inches. Although I'd still be willing to bet she's ahead of this curve. We have another detailed anatomy scan in a couple of weeks and I can't wait to hear all of her new measurements. I'm pretty sure she's made the move down south, which we'll hopefully confirm at tomorrow's regular appointment. While her lungs will continue to develop (even after birth), they are technically capable of breathing outside air now. They say she should be sleeping and awake at regular times as well, but I can't seem to pinpoint them. She seems to be awake all. of. the. time. I'm assuming she sleeps as I move around throughout the day, but I wouldn't say it's on a particular schedule. When I move, she sleeps. When I stay still, she decides to dance (and tumble, kick, jab, roll, and all of the above). Her brain is still very active and developing rapidly, into our little baby genius of course.

 

How far along? 27 weeks

Baby's size? a rutabaga (google is your friend)

Total weight gain: 17 pounds - no gain this week
Maternity clothes? Yes, more so than regular. Boo!
Sleep: It's actually been better this past week. Per my chiropractor, he recommended taking our 6 inch body forming pad off the mattress. Genius! I slept for 6 hours straight - it was amazing. Not every night has been as great, but I definitely wake up less often and sleep for much longer stretches. Ironically, now JP can't sleep. Poor guy needs more padding. He's been a really good sport about it, although we are trying to come up with a solution.
Best moment(s) this past week: We finally ordered all of our nursery furniture from Buy Buy Baby. We were lucky to have every piece in stock, other than the glider. We ordered one to be custom made, so it should be here in 8-12 weeks. I'm obsessed with our furniture, but I didn't love the pricetag. It will be worth it I suppose. :) We had our fall carnival at school on Friday and I loved it. It's probably my favorite event all year long. I love seeing all my kiddos dressed up in costume and teachers getting soaked in the dunk tank. :) We also went to a beautiful wedding last night. I absolutely love weddings (especially when I don't have to plan them!). I would seriously consider being a wedding crasher. Any takers? Disclaimer: Our wedding was hands down A-mazing and a complete dream come true! I was just happy to see the planning stage over.

Miss Anything? Champagne. There have been very few times I've missed alcohol since being pregnant. Ironically, I've loved not drinking. However, there have a been a few occasions in which I would have loved to participate - champagne toasts at weddings, beer at Oktoberfest, and tailgating. Above all else, I think I'm going to miss wine over the holidays.
Movement: Baby Girl is still her ADD self and constantly on the go. I absolutely love it, but I also worry that she doesn't get enough rest! I'm pretty sure she tried to back her butt up and on out of my belly a few nights ago. Half of my stomach became almost completely flat and this huge round shape took over and stuck out an extra 4-5 inches. It was SO bizarre. I can also feel movements across my belly. It's so weird, friends.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing new - still trying to sneak more and more protein into my diet.
Cravings: I've been eating a lot of hummus this week, in addition to my pickels and lemonade. :)
Labor Signs: nope

Gender: GIRL!
Symptoms: I'm still peeing like it's my job and the back aches are improving thanks to my chiropractor and husband for giving up the mattress pad! My legs and calves cramp up once in a while, it's annoying, but it usually only lasts a few minutes. I guess that's what happens when you add 17 pounds of belly to your upper half!

Belly Button in or out? It's still technically in, but the inside part seems to be popping a little more and more each week. My guess is that it pops within the next few weeks.
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: I'm very happy! :)
Looking forward to: My doctor's appointment tomorrow. Sort of. I'm doing the glucose test (yuck!), but I'm hoping he'll want to do a little ultrasound. While I can feel the area she is in (it does change), I can't tell which direction she's facing and it really bothers me. I'm also SUPER excited for a Halloween party on Friday and mine and JP's 5 year dating anniversary on Saturday.

27 weeks: Mama

27 weeks: Ellie

26 weeks

Today marks the start of my 26th week - only one more week until the 3rd trimester.

Can you believe it?!

 

Eliana is close to the 2 pound mark, if she isn't already, and she's at least 14 inches from head to toe. Don't you worry, she puts her ever growing size to good use. In case you were wondering, she uses all 14 inches to practice her karate moves - into the walls of my uterus and all those other vital organs, no big. Her ears are even more developed and sensitive, which was very evident Saturday night. The music was a little too loud for her taste at Oktoberfest. She made sure to let me know she wasn't a fan. She continues to inhale and exhale amniotic fluid, which prepares her for breathing outside the womb. Her brain is still rapidly developing, her hair continues to grow, and she even has little baby toenails. :)

 

There is a very exciting and NEW development that will happen this week if it hasn't already.

This week will mark the first time she learns to bat those pretty lashes. :)

She can officially open and close her eyes. Baby Girl can see, my friends! Caaarazy!

 

How far along? 26 weeks

Baby's size? a head of lettuce

Total weight gain: 17 pounds - although at times I feel like it's more like 27 pounds!
Maternity clothes? I've finally reached that point. The point of no return. The point where I wear more maternity clothes than my regular clothes. I still try to fit into a lot of my normal wardrobe. Some things work. Others, not so much. I look ridiculous even trying.
Sleep: Eh, still so-so. I wake up too frequently. The boppy really helps, but sleep still isn't wonderful. I think I just need to accept the fact that nights of quality sleeping are long gone. Even post baby belly, I'll have an out-of-the-womb-baby keeping me up at all hours of the night. Yet, another point of no return that I've reached much too quickly.
Best moment this past week: The entire week was absolutely amazing. I can't even pinpoint a best moment. The one thing that was not so amazing - registering for my baby shower. Seriously, it was 10 times more stressful than I could have ever imagined. I did hours upon hours of research beforehand and I still didn't feel prepared. It was really overwhelming. I really hope people refer to my registry because I might have a mental breakdown if those four (yes, FOUR!) hours ended up being a waste of my time.

Miss Anything? Deli meat. I went to a birthday party today and my mouth was literally watering at the sight of the subs. I have had deli meat 3 times since being pregnant, but I've always steamed it in the microwave. Even then, I felt guilty. I want a freaking turkey sandwich, y'all!
Movement: Baby Girl is definitely getting stronger. Some of these kicks literally take my breath away. Not because she's kicking an organ necessarily, just because they are SO powerful. I'm amazed at how quickly this little HUMAN is growing inside of my belly. However, I suppose by the size of my belly I shouldn't be all that surprised.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing new. Although since this question is so boring, I'm adding a craving question. :)
Cravings: I've found myself wanting the same items over and over -  lemonade (obvi), black olives, zesty dill pickles, cereal, and the most interesting - Chef Boyardee Mini Raviolis. Random? I think so. I use to eat these as a kid. I've now had them more times than I can count on one hand.
Labor Signs: nope

Gender: GIRL!
Symptoms: The back aches seem to overpower any other symptom that I may be having. I still pee like it's my job as well.

Belly Button in or out? Appearance wise, it's still really, really weird. It remains really sensitive.
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time: I'm very happy! :)
Looking forward to: All of the upcoming events this month. I think I'm booked solid for the next 4 or 5 weekends and I'm excited for every minute of it.

26 weeks: Mama

26 weeks: Ellie

 

To Each Their Own

First and foremost, let me just say that I respect women and the choices they make about methods of delivery and nourishment for their baby. While I see the overwhelming benefit in doing things such as a vaginal delivery and breastfeeding, the reality is that it just doesn't work for every woman. Even for those that intend on doing one or the other, or both, it doesn't always work out that way for one reason or another. Regardless, I will not criticize a woman and the choices that she makes in regard to these practices and in fact it really bothers me when others do behave in such a manner.

I personally plan on breastfeeding and my goal is to breastfeed for at least 9 months. Just about everyone I talk to says that if you can get past the first 6-8 weeks, it gets so much better. 8 weeks is a long time, but I think I can do it! :)

I also plan on a vaginal delivery and unless absolutely medically necessary, I do NOT want a c-section.

Well, my friends. This woman, HERE, took c-sections to a whole new level.

Holy craziness.