37 week update

Lets's recap the last few weeks:

• I've kept my sugar pretty well under control so far, but this last week it was a bit high so I've had to really keep a closer watch on what I'm eating this week.
• My total weight gain- 44 lbs (what??!)
• On the 24th my co-workers gave me a baby shower at work, isn't that a pretty cake?!

• A hospital survival kit was given to me by my secret sister at church- my secret sister is amazing :)

• Our bags are packed (mine AND BellaRae's) and we are ready to head out the door!

As of last Wednesday I was dilated to 2 cm so I'm anxious to know if there has been any progress. I have a lot of pressure as she has been very low for weeks now. My doctor says I am very likely to go into labor early and so it could be any day now!! We are so excited! We hope to have an ultrasound this Wednesday at our appointment to see exactly how big she is measuring and that will determine if I will be induced at 39 weeks if she doesn't try to come any sooner. Hope to have good news after my appointment this week!

34 week update

Well, we are really counting down now!

This was supposed to be a post about her nursery but 3 baby showers worth of clothes and diapers and other gifts are piled up and it's taking me a while to go through everything and get it all organized. This child has more clothes than me! And she's a close second with her shoes! 

Daddy built her this closet/changing table/dresser to save on space. (He did a great job!!)

We will use baskets on the shelves for socks, shoes, hair bows and folded onesies. The goal for this week is to get the shelves organized!

We also had a co-ed bbq with a few family members friends last Saturday in place of a baby shower. Will definitely do it again for the next little one! It was much more relaxing than a traditional shower!

Here are a few pictures:

30 week pictures and an update on our Sugar Baby

Over a month ago I had my first glucose test, which I failed pretty badly so I had to do the 3 hour test. Last Monday I met with my doctor for the first time since the 3 hour and we discussed that I had passed. Whew! Then, I asked some questions about why I failed the first one. Aaaaand, that's how I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Once she dug into my charts she kept finding levels that worried her. I freaked out while she talked about what might happen if this was left untreated, large baby, and in most cases a hypoglycemic baby, c-section for certain, possibly pre-eclampsia.... So I agreed to do whatever it takes so that BellaRae is born healthy and full term.

Today is day 7 of finger pricking and logging meals. It's a lot of extra work and  if you know me, you probably wonder how in the world I'm pricking my finger multiple times a day. I really had to pray hard on that one! It made me so nervous and sick at first! I'm getting used to it now and my numbers have also gotten better so I feel good about everything so far.

I'm 31 weeks, but still need to share a few pictures my sister Melanie took last week so here they are:

As you might imagine, things are getting pretty hard to do. Bending over to pick up something is now a luxury of the past. I now have to use my feet to scoot things either to the side and wait for help or drop to my knees and risk not being able to get up. Most of you can relate. I also have had a lot of swelling the last two weeks so I've spent my evenings with my feet up. (Sounds nice, but this mama has stuff to do!)

Well, that's my update for now! I'll share our "nursery" next!

I need cupcakes.

Well, I made it to the third trimester! (Cue confetti and cupcakes- chocolate if you don't mind!)

I've been welcomed by painful, restless nights and swelling....very glamorous, very glam indeed!

We went to our first kids/baby consignment sale last weekend and got Miss BellaRae some cute clothes and shoes, only downside was the over hour long line to check out. Nathan is done with consignment sales now.

Ok, I'm really craving those chocolate cupcakes.....

So Loved

I took a few 27 week shots of BellaRae and I yesterday. Although they aren't professional and my clothes and hair are very "Saturday", these are really special to me.

Hurry up...no wait!

I  am a bad blogger. End of story. I always think about blogging but its the doing it that I struggle with...which leads to long posts like this one to catch everyone up!

Well January and February have been pretty good/easy on me.  But, here's what I'm learning so far: That a pregnancy pillow is a MUST, and that even skinny girls' legs can be unrecognizable at the end of the day.(Are those spider veins on my FEET?!) Propelling myself from the bed is almost like a second alarm to my brain. I can gain thirty pounds. (Yes, you read that right. The goal is forty per my doctor so I'm pretty sure I've got it covered.) There's practically no healthy food unless if came from your own garden, and everything is full of chemicals. The decaf department is seriously lacking in options and flavors. Our bathroom stalls at work are not made with overweight or pregnant ladies in mind. (I'm not sure why this is such a pet peeve...oh pregnancy!) I have come to terms with flats... Goodbye all cute heels/wedges, see you after baby. If food was a person, it would be in my "favorites" on my iPhone. We spend a lot of quality time together: at work, in the car, on the couch. I've lost sight of my waist, that dreaded fear of mine. I'm proud to say I don't think Nathan even knows that. (If you're lost, then never mind. Trying not to pull a full blown TMI.) Sometimes babies kick places that should be off limits. I could add many more! This is such an interesting experience, this pregnancy stuff!

We spent the last half of our Valentine's Day date baby shopping at Buy Buy Baby and Babies R Us. It was a bit overwhelming and the first time we had really tried to get an idea of everything we will need. We picked out a crib and pushed strollers around in the store and walked out with a bag of maternity clothes! We decided on a mini crib since the baby will be in our room and we want as much room to walk around as possible. I decided to make the crib skirt myself and here's the pretty gold shimmer polka dot fabric I'm using.

It took me weeks and weeks to decide on a theme but here are my Pinterest inspirations:

 

I can't wait to see how it all turns out and I'll be sure to post pictures!

 

I have my first baby shower in a few weeks, and it's so weird to be the one being "showered" instead of the one hosting! It's exciting, though!

 

I can't wait to meet this little girl! I can't decide if I want time to speed up or if I'll miss these little moments where she is constantly with me. Thank you, God for this little blessing.

 

Little Kicks

We had a great Christmas(other than the dreaded "flu" bug hitting all but 1 of the 22 of us! I wasn't very lucky.) We traveled to Michigan which is about a 14 hour drive from us. Let me tell you...traveling pregnant is not the most fun thing I've ever done. Out of the car every 2 hours to get the circulation going again is rather annoying. But I did it, lol.

In other exciting news, on December 29th, I was lying in bed and I felt the first kick from the outside! What a moment! I told Nathan to put his had on my belly and he was able to feel it too. Amazing how I could go from feeling a tiny tap here and there on the inside to full blown kicking, but so far, baby wakes me up in the morning with kicking and we go to bed with kicking. Baby also has found it's favorite side and I often have a "mound" the size of my fist on the right side. I'm sure it won't be as cute in another ten weeks so I'll enjoy it now. Our next appointment is coming up this Thursday and it's our gender ultrasound so stay tuned for our announcement!

This week I have spent a lot of time pondering what it will really mean to be a parent. The responsibility and seriousness of it can be overwhelming. You are responsible for another human's care and well-being. Being Christians, we also feel that we have a great responsibility to teach our child about God's love and grace and salvation. Such an important job. I know that God will be faithful to lead and direct our little family and I'm fully trusting in Him.