Mommy Mondays Week 40

I've missed a week and haven't been posting recipes, but I've had a good reason. Hubby and I have our hands full with this cutie:

Mommy Mondays Week 38

Another exhausting week! Hubby and I have been staying busy. Walking about 2 miles a day, eating whatever the heck we feel like, and seeing all of our friends. I'm really excited to say that next week will be the last Mommy Mondays post during my pregnancy! My doctor is going to go ahead and induce me at 39 weeks. I am miserable, my cervix is paper thin and I'm almost 4 cm dilated but my body isn't going into active labor. If you've been there, you know how uncomfortable it is! I'm happy to at least have a date at this point, but the doctor still thinks it might happen before then. Apparently my labor could progress pretty quickly so the OB said if my contractions are strong and 7 minutes apart, just go into labor and delivery. So exciting! I can't wait to meet my little girl.

Mommy Mondays Week 37

Wow what a week! It surely started off with a bang. Last Sunday I was having Braxton Hicks contractions about 10 minutes apart for a few hours before bed. I didn't think much of it since I was dehydrated from throwing up earlier in the day. Monday morning was my last day of work, and in the car the contractions were about six minutes apart and my back was starting to ache. I called the doctor and they said to go to labor and delivery just to be sure. My husband came and picked me up, since the contractions were a little uncomfortable at that point and pretty close together. We got to triage and I instantly felt like a crazy first time mom. I just kept telling my husband I'm probably not even having contractions and I'm just being paranoid. The nurse hooked me up to the fetal monitor, and the baby was doing just fine. Turns out I was actually having contractions about three minutes apart at that point, although they weren't too uncomfortable. She checked my cervix and to my surprise I was already 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced. 

I was shocked, I really thought I was being crazy. They told me I'll probably just have the baby early but since I wasn't in pain I could go home. I had an appointment with my OB on Tuesday morning, and he said I was 80% effaced and 3 cm dilated. At this point the contractions were uncomfortable. I could feel menstrual-like cramps and back pain with each contraction, but I still felt fine. We went to L&D again at the request of my OB just to make sure I wasn't progressing too quickly. After an hour on the monitor contractions were about seven minutes apart but I was still at 3 cm, so they said I could go ahead and labor at home. Then Tuesday night it basically stopped. The contractions slowed to maybe one an hour and I felt fine. Since then I've been having contractions here and there, but nothing worth timing. It's tough because Monday we thought we'd have the baby within a few days. We packed our hospital bags, put the car seat in the car, and were ready to go! Now a week later we're still waiting on baby girl to make her grand entrance. I know she'll come "when she's ready" as everyone keeps telling me, because what else do you say? It's frustrating, I'm ready to hold my baby. I hope she comes soon! For now, hubby and I are going about business as usual! Trying to stay busy.

Mommy Mondays Week 36

Oddly enough week 36 wasn't too crazy or eventful in terms of my pregnancy. Overall it was a rough week. After a long battle with cancer my uncle passed away on Friday January 10th, he was 49 years old. He was my favorite uncle and seeing him struggle has been difficult over the past year and a half. Today was the service to honor his life, and it was absolutely beautiful. I didn't know if I would be able to make it today, due to a little labor scare. 

I can write more about it in next weeks pregnancy update, since it just started on Monday. Basically I made it an hour and half at work on my last day before I had to go to L&D. My contractions were 4 minutes apart, they weren't particularly painful but I wasn't feeling too great. Turns out I was 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced. Since then we've been back to L&D once more per my doctors request, but things have slowed way down. For now baby is still cooking away but now we're anxiously awaiting her arrival.

Mommy Mondays Week 35

This past week marked the start of my modified work hours! I still worked two regular days, but as of the 2nd I am down to just 5 hours at a time. It's a huge relief, because after working my 5 hours I went to the doctor, then CVS to get a prescription, and I was completely exhausted by the time I got home. This baby girl is getting big, and man can I feel it. Every day it's new aches and pains. Frequent Braxton Hicks, and the sensation that she is just going to fall right out. Getting up is actually painful at this point. 

I was looking forward to NYE with my family, and I ended up laying on the couch all night (after a 2 hour nap) because I was just so unbelievably uncomfortable. I can't believe she will be here in just about a month, we really need to finish up the nursery! I know once she's here I'm just going to want to relax and sleep whenever I can and not fuss over the apartment.

Mommy Mondays Week 34

Well we're officially moving at warp speed! I remember asking my husband what felt like months ago when we should get the car seat base in the car "just in case," and we agreed to do it at 35 weeks. That's next week! How is this possible? Her nursery is really coming together. My dad refinished a dresser that was my husbands when he was little, and all we're waiting on is the glider to be delivered. Then I'm ready to decorate! I can't wait to share. I was thinking in addition to pictures I could put a vlog up on YouTube to give you a better feel about the space and layout of the room.

I'm definitely feeling very pregnant these days. My feet swell from work, my stomach is so sore at the end of the day from all the Braxton Hicks that I feel like I've done 10,000 crunches, and I'm pretty sure I waddle. I've been noticing a lot of pressure down below, but nothing out of the ordinary from what friends tell me. I had my 3 hour glucose test about a week and a half ago and my doctors office never called me about it, so I'm assuming all is well. Which is great! I can eat sweets again haha! I don't know why, but I have this feeling the baby might come before her due date. Maybe it's the pressure, the what feels like constant Braxton Hicks, and the fact that she's been head down for so long. Everyone says first babies take forever, both in terms of how long you're pregnant and how long you're in labor. I will just keep hoping and praying it all goes smoothly. 

Mommy Mondays Week 33

I can't believe I'll be full term in only four weeks! That's just insane. I remember being so anxious to make it past the first trimester, I feel like it was just yesterday. Now we're getting closer and closer to baby actually being here. I feel like I have no time, that I'm not prepared and never will be because there isn't enough time! Our Christmas tree has no presents under it, I never even put out the nativity scene, and I haven't baked a single cookie. This hasn't been the merriest of holidays, but I'm looking forward to having Christmas day off and New Years day too. 

Once it's January I'll be on a modified work schedule until I'm out on maternity leave. So luckily I'll just be working five hour days, which is really exciting! I won't have to work long enough to take a lunch break, I won't have to sit in traffic to and from work, and hopefully it will help keep the swelling down. I got home from work Friday and I was in so much pain I couldn't even bend to take off my shoes or pants to get into pi's. My hubby had to help me, and then he pointed out my legs. They looked awful. I had a massive indent where my socks were and my feet looked really chubby. Guess it's time to slow down, my body is starting to get pissed at me.

Mommy Mondays Week 32

Health-wise week 32 was much better than week 31. In terms of my mental health, wasn't the best. I must have cried at my desk twice a day for the first few days during the week. There is a lot of stress in my life right now. Family members who are ill, my aunt recently passed away, and my work is unable to do anything about shortening my hours. So it's been hard. I'm just taking it one day at a time, trying to get through these next four weeks. Then I will officially be on maternity leave and eligible to collect disability from the state, since I don't have vacation or sick time through my job. I can't wait until those couple weeks before Isla is here to just spend time with the hubby, before we officially become a family. It's so exciting! I can't wait to be a mommy.

(sorry for the poor pic quality; bad lighting and a dirty lens! oops!)

Mommy Mondays Week 31

Well, week 31 was really interesting. For the most part it really sucked. My stomach seemed a little off Monday night, but nothing major at least not when you're pregnant. Woke up Tuesday morning feeling like I had been hit by a bus. My head was killing me, my stomach felt funny, and I couldn't even finish my oatmeal. I took a sip of coffee and immediately pushed it aside. I knew something was up, but I had no idea what the rest of the week was going to be like. A few hours later it was the full on stomach flu. I couldn't even keep water down, I had a fever and sleeping that night was difficult from the chills and night sweats. The next morning my hubby came home and took me to urgent care. I needed IV fluids and a prescription for Zofran to help with the nausea so I could eat a little. My pulse was a whopping 134, man was I dehydrated. 

The next day I had to work, even though I had a doctors note to rest for three days. Another girl was out sick, and the other on vacation. There was no one to work, so I went in and worked 11:30-8 pm. It was the absolute worst day. Friday I was finally feeling better and could eat a little, and hubby and I did some baby shopping. First Target, then Ikea that night. I felt like I was going to die. The weight of the baby is really starting to affect my body. Everything aches, and just walking around Target feels like running a marathon. I think I'm officially too big to shop. And if being sick for three days followed by an insane amount of shopping wasn't enough, I spent all of Saturday and Sunday nesting. I put together her changing table and crib, reorganized everything, cut off all the tags from the clothes we got at the shower, put books away, organized the closet, the list goes on. Thank goodness for the nesting instinct, otherwise I don't think I'd get anything done. Probably ever. 

On another random note, I've gained about 26 lbs at this point. I was really determined to be one of those awesome pregnant ladies who was "all belly" and didn't have the thicker thighs and double chin I'm currently experiencing. I'm a little disappointed in myself, the second trimester I just really piled on the weight. I guess for my next pregnancy I'll really watch my overall calories and salt more closely, since it didn't go so well this time around. I'm hoping to get back to my pre-prego size with ease from a lot of walking and breastfeeding once she's here!

Mommy Mondays Week 30

Wow we are officially in the 30's! I think that means time is about to move even faster than it has been. I can't believe my shower is behind me, and Thanksgiving too! That means Christmas is next, then New Years, then a baby! This past week was one of my favorites. I got to spend time with my family (my sister and her boyfriend came down from LA to visit), and I had time with my in laws as well! Thanksgiving was wonderful. We had lunch at my mother in laws, and then dinner at my parents. The boys played video games, and the girls chatted. I honestly wish I could have a do-over of the whole week. I miss having family around all the time. My sister felt Isla kick the night of my baby shower, that was so amazing to experience with her. She's very excited to become an auntie!

(downside to an early sunset is horrible quality pics once I'm home from work, sorry!)

Mommy Mondays Week 29

My last week in the 20's! I can't even believe it. Each week we're that much closer to meeting baby girl, my husband and I are getting really excited. The paint for her nursery has been purchased, hopefully we can paint within the next couple of weeks. My dad is working on refinishing a dresser and bookshelf for her, then we just need to buy the crib and changer. I can't wait to see how it all comes together. I feel like I should apologize for my lack of posting lately, I can't even manage to get this one up on time. Life. What can I say, it's been rough.

Mommy Mondays Week 28

Hubby and I are currently in Las Vegas until tomorrow, and I completely forgot to set an alarm to remind me to post. I should have typed this up before we left and scheduled it, but my pregnancy brain has me feeling pretty air headed lately. This past week seems to have flown by, and now I'm officially in the third trimester! I can't believe how fast time flies, I must be having too much fun. I really do enjoy being pregnant. It's worth the aching back, throbbing feet, tummy troubles, itchy stomach, and headaches! Just to feel Isla move and see her grow every week is such a miracle. Seeing my husband get more and more excited every week is the sweetest thing. I know once she's here his heart will melt. Can't wait to meet her. 

DIY Maternity Photos Using your iPhone

My husband and I are both awful at taking pictures. Since I've been pregnant, the only pictures I had of myself were the once a week bump shots. We've been to parties, gone to happy hours, and socialized with our friends. But we have no pictures to prove it. I wanted to snap a few pictures in order to do a name reveal for our little sweet pea on Facebook, for our not so immediate family and friends who didn't already know her name. I didn't necessarily need to involve my hubby in this, but we were both home and the weather was so nice it turned into a mini photo shoot. 

I had some friends asking who took the pictures, who the photographer was, how they were edited, etc. I thought it was easiest to explain it all in a blog post. Hopefully you will find this helpful, and if you're camera shy it might entice you to take some pictures to remember your pregnancy. I took my maternity pictures pretty early on, I'm just now in my third trimester and I was 26 weeks in these photos. My bump is small, but that's okay. I would rather take these pictures while I can see my feet and haven't entered full-waddle-mode quite yet. 

Mommy Mondays Week 27

I am finally in my 7th month of pregnancy! I feel like a lot has changed in terms of my looks the past week. I wake up looking quite pregnant, and strangers are noticing it as well. I know because they either make a comment, or I can feel their eyes on my stomach as they stare. It's a little awkward. 

I always thought week 27 marked the beginning of the third trimester, but according to my Baby Center app it's the end of the second trimester. For all the moms and pregos out there, when do you think the third trimester begins? The picture this week was taken, a day early, by my bestie. It's not often I'm out in the sunshine with someone else to take a picture of me!

Mommy Mondays Week 26 on repeat

We found out from the doctor last week that my ultrasound confirmed my due date is February 11th, so it's been pushed back a week. I'm sad because it means I have to wait longer to meet my little one, and she might be a valentines baby! I don't know why that bothers me, I just don't want any holidays to take away from her special day. 

When they originally moved my date up a week, I didn't know why. I figured they were just going by my cycle date, but even then I would have been due in January based off that. The doctor said my fundal height is 23-24; so I'm measuring small, but normal, for how many weeks the baby is. It could be that she's a little baby, or that she was in a position where she wasn't taking up as much space. Either way, I'm fine with her being smaller rather than larger. I'm terrified of delivering a 10 lb baby. Mainly because I'm already up 18 lbs, and being a week behind means I've gained just a little more than I "should have" at this point. From here on out I'm going to eat better. All those late night Taco Bell trips in the first and second trimester are starting to catch up to me.

Mommy Mondays Week 26

I can't believe that in just one week I'll officially be in the third trimester. Time has absolutely flown by! I've been so busy working that I haven't accomplished much else. In November we'll start on the nursery. I want to paint her room, finish painting and refinishing the furniture she already has, purchase the crib and changer, and start decorating! I plan on making her a chandelier mobile, a frame with her initial (hint, it's an I) to go over her crib, and some other sweet touches. Should be fun!

Protein Packed Chocolate Milkshake: A Pregnancy Treat!

I find myself wanting ice cream more now that I'm pregnant. I'm not sure if it's because of the sugar or my new found love of dairy. I did read online it's a good craving to indulge in, in moderation, because at the very least it has calcium. I only wish it would fill me up a bit more, for longer anyway. Enter protein powder. We have huge tubs of this stuff because my hubby is a fitness buff, and honestly it doesn't taste all that bad. But when you add milk and chocolate ice cream, it's certainly more satisfying.

Mommy Mondays Week 25

I think it's safe to say this was the best week ever. No work, all play. It was just what I needed. I want to see my husband, friends, and family more. I also want to cook and blog more because I really enjoy it. I'm looking forward to November. Work will be slow, the weather will hopefully cool down, and I can just focus on being healthy for baby and cooking up a storm!

Mommy Mondays Week 24

Another week down! Sometimes I feel like I'm really waiting to pop still. My family and friends say they can tell I'm pregnant, but they also know I am. I'm waiting for strangers to be able to tell! That way they probably won't be thinking "why is that fat girl out of breath if she's walking so slow?"

Mommy Mondays Week 23

WOW what a week! It's crazy how 'pregnant' I feel now that the baby weighs more. We had a doctors appointment during week 23, and found out my placenta is within 1 cm of my cervix. He's not calling it placenta previa, but I have to go back for another ultrasound at 25 weeks. Hopefully everything will move along and it won't be an issue, otherwise I will need a c-section. I'm not anti c-section for the women who choose to have them or have to have them, I just really don't want one. This week also came with a lot more movement, reflux, some nausea, and an upset tummy. I think I'm dehydrated, I need to be better about getting all of my water. I look huge in the picture, but I swear it's half undigested food. And I took this picture after work, so I had already eaten two meals plus snacks.