Do they know?

Have you ever heard that animals know when you're pregnant?  I've read that dolphins are able to detect the fetal heartbeat and get totally enamored with pregnant ladies.  A friend told me that her horse wrapped it's head/neck around her belly strangely one day and she didn't understand what he was doing.  Then a few days later she discovered she was pregnant.  I've definitely had horses seem very interested in my belly.  Softly nuzzling it and sometimes go so far as not wanting to leave me alone!  It really is like they know. 

My cat, Jade, is another animal that makes me wonder if she knows I'm an expectant mama.  Starting very early off she would come drape herself across my belly.  Jade isn't usually a super lap cat, but my whole pregnancy she has consistently shown interest in my belly and comes and lays on it frequently.  I always wonder how she can be comfortable laying on my lumpy baby-full belly with him squirming and kicking underneath her.  But, she never seems to mind.  In fact it's the opposite, she goes fast to sleep.  Weather she's able to detect the baby or not it sure has been super sweet to sit or lay quietly as I absorb all the kitten love and baby movements. 

I've never been a cat person before.  I probably would have said "I hate cats" and totally never saw myself with one.  But, this cat is special and she's totally stolen my heart.  I found her tiny puffball baby self at the barn in Okinawa and rescued her.  Since my dog passed away last year I really want to get a puppy, but that will have to wait a bit until I get the new baby thing under control.  I would have a whole zoo of adopted animals if Brad didn't constantly tell me no! 

33 - 36 weeks - Not much longer now!

Bump update - weeks 33 - 36!

 

This was a nice night - packed a picnic and ate dinner on the beach as the sun went down. 

I love my backyard pool!  All alone I rock the 2-piece and let the belly out in all it's glory. 

We got our professional pictures done this week, so Bathroom selfie will have to do for now.

  

36 weeks.  It's gone by incredibly fast.  I love this flattering dress from Target.  It's my hope that black really is slimming because I feel yucky and super huge.  I've read that wearing pants after a c-section is torture, so I plan on living in comfy dresses like this one for a few weeks. 

How Far Along: Currently I'm one day away from being 37 weeks, FULL TERM!  But, this post will be a review of last month's pregnancy adventure. 

Size of baby: a watermelon.  Somewhere around 19-22 in. and 6.5 lbs.  Feels like it too!

Total Weight Gain:  this freaks me out!  I never look at the scale when they weigh me at the doctors office.  I tell them to only talk to me if it's a problem.  I'm watching what I eat, trying to be as healthy as possible and trying to get my exercise in.  These days food shopping feels like exercise!

Maternity Clothes:  Belly is massive. Pretty sure this thing has it's own planetary orbit.  

Gender:  Quick ultrasound last week yet again confirmed it's for sure a boy.

Movement:  His movements are getting far less extreme. I feel his kicks and stretches, but not so much flipping and making big movements like before.  And I'm pretty sure he's sideways. 
Exercise:  It's amazing the things that get me sweating and huffing and puffing these days.  I like to go for walks.  I really miss running and riding and working out like normal.  But, I have to follow doctors orders to take it easy.

Sleep:  Just in the last week or so sleep has become an issue.  The baby will sit super high up on my ribs/organs and I can't get comfortable.  I sleep with the most massive pillow fortress to prop me up and with pillows on either side.  I really miss laying on my back.  I usually have trouble falling asleep and when I finally do get to sleep I wake up often during the night with the need to walk around a bit or to pee.  I guess it's good practice for when he gets here in a few weeks.  I'm feeling pretty fatigued during the day and my energy is pretty low.  I love naps.

What I miss:  I miss a lot of things and I think it's helping me feel more ready for having the baby and not being pregnant anymore.  I've loved being pregnant and sometimes I get super sad to think this special time of my life is almost over.  But, at the same time I can't wait to finally meet my son!  And I can't wait to make a homemade margarita, sip some wine, crack open a beer and drink some bubbly!  (Even if it's only a tiny drink since I plan on breast feeding!) Sleep on my back, get my body back, be able to go run and ride again, lift stuff, and eat a tuna sandwich.  

Cravings:  Coconut, nuts/nut butters, avocado.  I know that at this point the baby is just pretty much putting fat on.  Maybe this is why my body is craving these high fat foods.  

Symptoms:  I'm puffy.  Fluffy.  And hot. 
Best moment this month:  Seeing my big boy on the ultrasound.  Finally getting our master bedroom furniture set so I can finally, finally finish getting the house put together.  We also took maternity pictures where we got married 5.5 years ago.  I can't wait to see them.  I hope I don't look whale-ish in at least one or two! 

What I’m looking forward to: 
I try to be super healthy.  Not just this pregnancy, but always in general.  I eat organic.  I avoid GMO's.  I only eat wild salmon and shrimp on occasion.  I don't eat fast food.  I don't drink soda.  I don't eat beef, pork (or any mammal)  and only eat organic chicken and eggs.  I've done everything I could to make a healthy baby.  And I've had a completly wonderful, easy pregnancy.  But, I still have placenta previa and it's medically necessary for me to have a planned c-section.  (I still can't type that with out getting teary-eyed!)  I've done my research, talked to my doctor and I do feel better about it than I did.  But, it is so far from what I wanted my birth experience to be like and it's so hard for me to embrace this as reality.  But, as my last and final ultrasound confirmed my placenta is in the wrong spot and isn't moving.  So, my baby's birthday is scheduled for June 27 (when I'm 39 weeks)!  I might be dreading the surgery and the recovery process, but I can't wait to look upon my sons face, kiss his cheeks, toes and nose and hold his little self in my arms.  My son.  Completely blows my mind.  I'll be a mommy in only 2 more weeks! I'm so incredibly lucky that my wonderful parents are going to fly in for 3 weeks to help me recover and transition to mommy-hood. And my sister is taking a break from her amazing, crazy, traveling life and coming from Turkey after a trip to Egypt.   And then my parents-in-law will come.  It is such a comfort and relief to know that I will have the love and support of my family around me during this wonderful, exciting time of my life. 

Paxton's Nursery

I couldn't wait to get moved into our new home so I could start getting the baby's room put together.  I knew I wanted to have white furniture, accent colors of green and blue and a starts/outer space theme.  I'm still really happy with how it turned out.

Before:

After!

View from the door.

Aqua chevron crib skirt and boppy cover.  Crib sheet, swaddle blanket and changing pad cover are Aden + Anais "Oh Boy" pattern of small blue and tan stars.

Rocking chair with jumbo cushions and Pottery Barn Kids rocket pillow. Accent table with blue and green Okinawa Glass Factory lamp.  Wall art from Etsy trafalgarssquare shop.

Star mobile from Pottery Barn Kids.  That little turtle in the corner shines stars all over the room! Shelves are filled with toys, 4 small frames, books, and a robot bank.

Jellycat lion an other softies in blue ombre basket (can't see too well, sorry!)

Changing pad in the "Oh Boy" Aden + Anais star print.  Star lamp, Jellycat elephant, light up lanterns and my first diaper bag - timi & leslie Marie Antoinette II. 

Can't believe my baby boy will be in there in a few short weeks! 

So there it is!  I got a lot of the stuff from Target and Amazon.  I'll be happy to tell you where I got specific things, so feel free to ask.  

We are all set with his car seat base installed in my car.  We have our Bob running stroller.  I can't WAIT to go for a run again.  And a big thanks to my awesome parents for buying the Bob for us!  I seriously love this stroller and can't wait to use it.  It's super maneuverable, collapses using one hand and seems pretty light weight.  We got the car seat adapter for when he's little, a tray for when he's older, and a cool accessory add on for the handle bar for water bottles, phone and other things that need to be on hand.

Jellycat helping me practice.

We have his Pack and Play, his swing and his play mat and all kinds of baby gear ready to go.  Pax is mostly all set.  But, I do still have an entire closet full of clothes that needs to be washed. And I should probably already be stocking up on diapers.  And I should probably practice my swaddling skills and how to put on/wear our 2 baby carriers.  Next week I have my next appointment with my doctor who will be doing my surgery, so I should know Pax's birthday soon! 

New Digs

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to move into this great house in Pensacola.  We literally signed the lease the day it came available.  We looked at a whole lot of houses in the area, but I really had my heart set on this one.  I'm so glad we were able to get it.  Sure, it's not the biggest, newest, or nicest, but I love the street, neighborhood, access to everything and most of all I love that his house has a pool in the back yard.

Our first pool side dinner a few weeks ago.

The house also has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, a living room, family room, breakfast nook, kitchen, dining room, and a 2 car garage on the side.  We love that we found such a great place to rent for the next 3 years! 

The house is really dark in this picture, hidden under the massive Live Oak tree in the front yard.  I LOVE that big old tree.  We have plans to paint the front shutters to brighten up the front of the house.

We put in the little flower garden around the mail box.  It's filled in a lot over the last couple weeks.  We'll see how it handles the intense FL heat this summer.  

We've been doing little projects like getting all the plumbing fixed, working on the yard and basically just trying to get moved in and settled.  The inside is mostly done, but we ordered a new bedroom furniture set, so I'll wait until we get it before I give you a peak inside.

I just love swinging on the front porch in the afternoons! 

I've wanted to live in a house for so long now.  I was so over living in an apartment!  But, wow, houses are so much more work.  The yard work alone, sheesh!  But, it's so worth it.  I love our new home!

Stay tuned next for a sneak peek into our baby's room!

Bump update! 28 - 32 weeks

20 weeks on the left vs. 30 weeks on the right.  Wow!  Hello belly!

How Far Along: 32 weeks.  8 months!

Size of baby: a honeydew, 19 in, 4.5 lbs.

Total Weight Gain: too much :(  yuck.  

Maternity Clothes: pretty much everything I wear except for some workout/yoga pants.  I can't go out in non maternity tops (and probably shouldn't wear them around the house either).

Gender: We had another ultrasound at 29 weeks to check the status of my placenta previa problem.  Tech, Dr. and midwife all confirmed it is undoubtedly a boy!

Movement: Oh yes.  I'm thinking he still has plenty of room in there for tons of fun.  He's getting strong!
Exercise:  Because I still have placenta previa my Dr and midwife have made me swear off running, riding and anything "strenuous" for the rest of my pregnancy.  I'm super bummed because I love being active, but I will have to make due with yoga, walking and swimming in my pool.

Sleep:  Still awesome.  I do feel more tired these days.  It could have to do with working my tail off on the new house. 

What I miss:  I'm ready for a cocktail.  A big one. 

Cravings:  I finally have a full kitchen again.  Movers came and I'm excited to have things again like my blender, keurig, toaster ... you know, plates to eat on. All that good stuff.  I crave avocado, watermelon, sweet potatoes, peanut butter on apples or bananas.  Eating healthy and organic is so much easier stateside.  I'm enjoying getting to cook again!

Symptoms:  I'm feeling so awesome.  It's great.  I do get puffy hands and feet if I do too much by the end of the day.  I feel huge, as in massive.  Baby boy is super active and I adore him already.  I only get minor braxton hicks when I do too much and get totally stressed out.  It's only happened a couple of times but it's like a little alarm that tells me to cut it out and relax. 
Best moment this week month:  Ok - big ones here!  We moved into a new house.  It's great!  And the pool out back is the shiz.  Our movers came with our stuff after being in the house for about 4 weeks.  I was overjoyed and totally overwhelmed.  We have way too much crap.  I think I have the nursery almost done.  Pictures and a post on it coming soon.  This is not the best thing, in fact it was the opposite for me, but my placenta previa has not resolved.  I have to schedule a c-section for when I'm 29 weeks around June 27.  That's only in 6 weeks, eeep!  The crappy, depressing side is that I wanted so much to have the natural birth I've been planning and hoping for.  I won't get to let my body do it's thing, I wont get to put my big hips to good use (I mean why else have I had to suffer with these huge baby makin' hips my whole life!?), I wanted ... something so different then a totally surgical birth.  Surgery terrifies me.  And for about a week I literally couldn't even talk about it without crying hysterically.  But, on the flip side, I'm so glad that with modern medicine the doctors can do something to save my baby and me.  The baby would die if I tried to give birth and I might too.  So, surgery is a much better alternitive.  I have a doula that is going to help me get ready mentally for the surgery and I am going to get as prepared as possible for the surgery and recovery process. 

What I’m looking forward to:  I can't believe that my baby boy will be in my arms in about 6 weeks.  

Here are belly pics from the last few weeks!  

On the porch of our new house!

Loved getting to see this beautiful boy's adorable face/legs/arms/belly - all of it!  I cry every time.

Pensacola beach!

I kind of look hot and sweaty... pretty much the case constantly this pregnancy.

This was from yesterday, Mothers Day!

 

Baby Shower Tea

My wonderful mother offered to throw me a baby shower tea while I was home visiting last month for my local friends and neighbors.  Since I love France so much she did a Provence theme.  I even found an awesome bakery to make us pretty French macarons.  We had iced teas, sparkling water, mimosas and a selection of hot teas.  We had lots of yummy foods like finger sandwiches, pastries and French cheeses.  Yum!

Paxton and I were showered with so much love.  He got a ton of wonderful things.

My friend Jules that I hadn't seen in years!

Long, long time bff Jess.

Alexis came all the way down from MA!

Aliya, me, Kate and Kaitlin

Me and my amazing, beautiful mommy.  This was at the end of the party.  If she looks tired, she probably was.  She worked so hard to make my day special. 

It was totally amazing to have so many of my favorite people together in one place.  I'm so lucky to have so many incredible people to support me and my growing family. 

23 - 27 week bump update

March has flown by!  We had a really busy month.  We moved from Okinawa back to the States.  We visited my parents for 3 weeks, we had a lot of fun seeing friends and really enjoy being back in America!  A few days ago we drove from VA to FL and are currently house hunting.  So, I have some catching up to do with my blog.

It's been a while since I've done a baby bump update!  

23 week picture is from our last day in Okinawa. 

Still loving my runs at 6 months!

25 weeks in DC

26 weeks in mom and dads living room.

A picture from today in our Pensacola extended stay hotel.

How Far Along: 27 weeks.  3rd trimester!!

Size of baby: Head of cauliflower, 16 inches, 2.5 lbs.

Total Weight Gain: my belly has gotten SO big over the last couple weeks.  Getting on the scale at my Dr appointment on Tues is not going to be fun.

Maternity Clothes:  Yup, pretty much only in maternity clothes at this point. I've been able to shop at maternity stores now that I'm back in the States and my neighbor gave me some great maternity clothes last week.

Movement: Baby Boy is super active and getting pretty strong.  I LOVE it.
Exercise: While I was visiting my parents in VA I went to my dads gym and kept up with my cardio, free weights and classes like cycle.  I'm still running quite a bit, but keeping the distances down.  Doing about 5 miles max, but super proud I'm still able to run 8 min miles!  I really enjoyed going for walks with my mom.

Sleep:  Sleep is pretty good. I'm not needing naps most days, but I'm usually ready for bed by 10pm. Some mornings I wake up really early and can't go back to sleep, but really can't complain.

What I miss:  I must think about drinking a margarita at least a couple times every day.

Cravings:  When I was home I would go into Whole Foods and just pretty much walk awe struck down the aisle lovingly putting organic thing after organic thing into my cart.  I love America! 

Symptoms: My belly is getting SO big.  I have a lot of really unattractive blue veins that have appeared on my boobs, tummy and thighs.  I hear these are temporary thank the lord.  I'm super-duper hot and sweaty majority of the time.  Sitting for long periods of time makes the middle of my back ache.  But, really I've been so lucky and I've been feeling so awesome.  And no stretch marks yet!
Best moment this week month:  Mom threw me a baby shower tea and I'll do a post on it soon. I loved being back in the States and getting to see my parents and friends. 

What I’m looking forward to:  Finding a new place to live, getting a new doctor, and not having to live out of a suitcase anymore.