35 Weeks Bumpdate

 

How Far Along? 35 Weeks

Size of Baby: A coconut, 18-20 inches long and roughly 6 lbs.

Gender: William Baker Mazhari!

Weight Gain:  Holding steady around 35 pounds for now.

Maternity Clothes:  Yes, and getting tired of it!  I miss the feeling of clothing being loose rather than straining to fit.  The remaining pieces that fit are on heavy rotation and I feel like I'm always doing laundry.

Nursery:  Honestly almost done!  This weekend Michael's uncle who owns an incredibly upholstery company delivered our gorgeous, custom built rocker chair.  It is quite literally perfect, and set to fit me perfectly!  The room feels so complete now, and I love sitting in there and thinking of William.  As soon as decor is completed I will share some photos of the room.  It is thrilling to be at this point in our pregnancy.

Movement:  All the time!  I love how it changes too.  It's more like a full sized baby just shifting around then the kicks and punches I used to feel.  Michael loves to watch my belly or come and identify body parts!  I know William must be running out of room in there.

Symptoms:  Heartburn and acid reflux, though this weekend I went for my first chiropractic adjustment and he prescribed a couple of natural supplements that seem to be helping.  He also popped my lower back and FINALLY relieved that pain and pressure and now I am walking mostly like a normal person!  Such a relief, I was in a LOT of pain last week and in general I try to avoid all medication that I can so natural relief is my preference.

Belly Button in or out?  Halfway out... it looks very weird right now.  Coupled with my linea nigra my tummy is just lovely these days.

Wedding Rings on or off?  Off... temporary band is getting snug too... I'm trying to find it humorous...

Sleep: Falling asleep relatively well, and heartburn seems to be not as horrendous at night if I remain elevated.  Hate the minimum of two potty breaks though.

Cravings: French TOAST!  This past week I actually began to cry hysterically because I wanted french toast so very badly...

What I Miss:  Getting out of bed easily, rolling over easily, getting into cars easily... Essentially just ease of movement!

Best Moment This Week: The arrival of our rocker in Williams nursery.  It made it so very real that soon I'll have a sweet little boy in my arms to rock to sleep

Looking forward to: At this point I honestly cannot wait for labor!  It's just so exciting knowing that we are just a few short weeks away from meeting this little guy.  Within the next month an ordinary day is going to become very special--his birthday!  I'll be planning birthday parties someday in celebration of this day... a day I don't even know of yet!  There's just something really special about that thought.

33-34 Weeks Bumpdate

The last two weeks have been pretty jam packed in the best way possible.  We had our baby shower on July 18th, thrown by our best friends and it couldn't of been more perfect!  All the details were so incredibly thoughtful and adorable.  Michael especially adored the diaper golf bag!  William now officially has his first clubs.  Our friends truly overwhelmed us with their generosity and we received most everything we needed for our little man.  It's pretty amazing to see his room and closet so filled up now.

{A few of the adorable shower details}

{Such an incredibly fun time!}

William and I also had a grand time babysitting miss Madison, his future girlfriend, and testing out his room!  It was so much fun to enjoy having a baby in our house, and I loved getting to spend some quality time with this wonderful little one.  She is such a dream, and I certainly hope we have as happy of a baby as Lauren and Evan have been blessed with!  I cannot wait to see her and William together, I have a feeling she'll have him wrapped around her little finger in no time.

We've also enjoy a lot of family time together, staying cool at my in laws awesome saltwater pool, touring the hospital {!!!}, attending our prepared childbirth classes, and enjoying yummy dinners out together.  We are doing our best to soak up the last few weeks as just the two of us (or three really counting our fur baby).  We've also been getting William's room ready to go and I'm excited to say it's almost done!  This past weekend we finally hung some truly lovely curtains, and they add so much to the space.  We splurged at pottery barn kids on them, but they darken the room SO well, and we love the pattern.  Truth be told, Michael picked them and I wasn't sure about adding a pattern, but they look awesome and I will share photos of the room very soon!

How Far Along? 34 weeks and 2 days (just to be exact)

Size of Baby: A butternut squash, 20 inches long and as of yesterdays scan, 5 lbs 4oz!

Gender: William Baker Mazhari!

Weight Gain:  Holding steady around 35 pounds for now.

Maternity Clothes: Haha.  This morning I threw a top on without really paying attention on my way out the door to work only to realize that a slice of belly was showing.  This is a maternity shirt I should mention... I just continue to pack away what no longer fits and my selection shrinks but I don't care all that much.  The end is in sight and I can't wait to fit into my normal clothes again!

Nursery:  Picking up our rocker this weekend and hanging artwork!  His closet and dresser are all organized and ready to go, and my diaper bag is packed for him for the hospital!

Movement:  Constantly, and at times it can be a bit uncomfortable!  Last night during our childbirth class michael was fascinated by my extremely lopsided belly since Wills was sticking out his butt on the right side and wiggling it.  He started pressing on him and Wills would push back!  I love feeling his little foot sticking out as well.  he has such a little personality.

Symptoms:  Heartburn, lower back pain, walking slowly, extremely emotional... this week I cried because I wanted french toast.  I wish I was joking about this.  Michael takes it in stride and seems to find it enduring.  I feel like I am losing my mind.

Belly Button in or out?  Kind of beginning to stick out?  It feels so strange!

Wedding Rings on or off?  Off... temporary plain band is helping me avoid feeling like an unwed mother and is kind of refreshing as I don't need to really worry about it too much!

Sleep: Whats that?  Just kidding...kind of.  I wake up 2+ times a night now and usually awake with intense pelvic pain.

Cravings:  Fresh peaches, peach milkshakes, chocolate chip cookies, french toast... all the healthy things clearly.

What I Miss:  Being a cute little pregnant person.  I miss the "awww you look so cute!" comments that have been replaced with "gosh, how much longer do you have?" or "I know you are SO ready!"

Best Moment This Week: I really enjoyed our hospital tour.  It made it so real, and gave me butterflies to think that next time we will be there will be to meet William!

Looking forward to: Picking up our rocker this weekend and visiting with Michaels uncles who made it (they own an upholstery company). 

8 Months Pregnant!!

{30 Weeks}

{31 Weeks}

{Over the 4th of July weekend in Wilmington}

How Far Along? 32 weeks (he could be here in 8 weeks or LESS!!)

Size of Baby: A Squash, 17 inches and since he is big I am estimating 4 pounds.

Gender: William Baker Mazhari!

Weight Gain:  A whopping 35 pounds...

Maternity Clothes: All the time.  I'm getting tired of growing out of maternity clothes actually!  I retired two more dresses this weekend and a few tanks and my options are pretty limited at this point.  Thankfully however, after trying on probably 30 dresses I finally found the ONE for our baby shower this weekend!

Nursery:  Almost done!  We have the crib, the changing table (which has been organized and filled with the essentials) the dresser (also organized) and the rug.  Just awaiting our rocker, need to get black out curtains and a few more art items.

Movement:  All day every day!  I love feeling his little feet sticking out my right side.  Sometimes he wakes me up with all his wiggles but I don't mind, I love knowing he's doing well.

Symptoms:  Definitely feeling some swelling, and I have mastered the preggo waddle at this point.  Heartburn continues!

Belly Button in or out?  At this point it's pretty much flat.

Wedding Rings on or off?  Off... so sad about this.  With 8 weeks left to go I didn't want to look like an unwed mother and found a simple little band to get me through the next few months.  I'll be missing my sparklers but my fingers are literally a full size bigger and I was getting terrified of them being cut off.

Sleep: Not great.  Pregnancy insomnia has set in.  I miss feeling well rested.

Cravings:  Sugar cookies and milk.

What I Miss:  I definitely miss wine.  While I will on occasion allow myself a half glass with dinner, it's not at all the same as relaxing with friends over drinks.  It can be tough to socialize with friends and everyone is loosening up and enjoying wine and all I get to enjoy are a few sips... But it's worth it and I'm in the home stretch! 

Best Moment This Week:  The last few weeks have been wonderful!   Wilmington was great over the 4th of July and we had our family shower!  So much fun!

Looking Forward To: Our baby shower this weekend!  I am so excited to celebrate William with family and friends.  I'm also so thankful to dear friends for making this party a possibility.  We can't wait!!  Other than that I am constantly day dreaming about our little boy!  Hoping the next two months FLY!

29 Weeks Bumpdate

 Now that I'm officially in the third trimester it's hard to believe how soon our son will be here.  Amidst pregnancy discomfort and anxiety I find myself so overwhelmingly excited I get butterfies.  Sometimes it's the smallest things, seeing a woman babywearing a little one and thinking I get to do that soon!  Or seeing a little boy playing.  Whatever it is, every day I am reminded of how blessed I am.  This is the greatest gift I can ever imagine, I get to participate in God's creation of life, it is miraculous and incredible and I can't believe this girl with the huge baby bump in the mirror is me.

How Far Along? 29 weeks

Size of Baby: A cabbage, 17 inches and since he is big I am estimating 3.5 pounds.

Gender:  A dapper young man!  William Baker Mazhari!

Weight Gain:  A whopping 30 pounds...

Maternity Clothes: All the time.  Really thankful that my mom and grandma decided to do some damage at gap and target to send me some third trimester outfits and two cute dresses.  I especially appreciate the under the bump style shorts they picked up at target.  The over the bump band can be pretty uncomfy when it hits 100 degrees.  It's all about comfort these days and sizing up for some extra room.

Nursery: Michael retouched the paint, we have the crib, dresser, and changing table.  Have been trying out different baskets for the changing table and are working on the decor!  Can't wait for our glider to arrive hopefully in July.

Movement:  Tons!  I did my first kick count the other day and had to laugh... it took less than 5 minutes to count 10 kicks.  I've even managed to video tape the crazy whole belly moving!  He also appears to be head down since I do feel some rib pain at times.

Symptoms: Just constantly feeling pregnant now.  Simple tasks are more challenging, I am always taking trips to the bathroom, my energy level isn't as high, and of course the heartburn.  Braxton hicks normally a few times a day.

Belly Button in or out?  At this point it's pretty much flat.

Wedding Rings on or off?  On, but when I get really hot I need to pry them off.

Sleep: Definitely in the third trimester now... sleep is hit or miss.  Waking up every night at least once and sometimes it's hard to fall back asleep. 

Cravings:  Pimento cheese and crackers, trader joes almond biscotti, grilled asparagus.

What I Miss:  A nice glass of pinot noir or rose... the ease of a deli sandwich.

Best Moment This Week:  I loved celebrating fathers day this year with my baby daddy!  William surprised Michael with his first fathers day gift and it was so cute seeing how excited he was.  We then enjoyed a wonderful church service and lunch and pool time at my in laws.  We all had a really wonderful day together.

Looking Forward To: Can't wait for the 4th of July spent in Wilmington with Michael's family, and our baby shower is fast approaching and I can't stop thinking about it!!

Crock Pot Mexican Chicken

 

I wanted to start sharing some of my favorite simple dinners because honestly, who has time for complicated meals these days?  For me it's something about the heat of the summer, but these days I find myself making the same few things often.  It may also be lack of energy being pregnant, but this is one meal that tastes like it actually took more effort when really it's pretty effortless!

You will need:

one package of chicken tenders

one jar of salsa (at least 12 ounces)

one package of taco seasoning

one onion and one bell pepper if you would like

*Dice the pepper and the onion, and then toss all the ingredients in your slow cooker for 4-6 hours and shred with a fork when done cooking!  I paired it with rice and grilled zucchini but honestly the possibilities are endless!

 

27 Week Bumpdate!

So here we are, in the last week of my third trimester, not even a full week really since each trimester is technically 13.3... weeks etc.  This past thursday was my glucose test and thankfully I passed!  108!  I was pretty anxious about it and honestly did NOT enjoy that test.  I went in with an empty tummy and that drink did not go down easy.  Plus, they drew blood for another test and I almost passed out... Michael was pretty anxious that's for sure!  They also told me I was measuring at 28 weeks when I was 26 weeks 3 days.  This prompted me to get an ultrasound from my friend who is an MFM (maternal fetal medicine specialist, a specialized OB).  I am pretty darn lucky to know her, she's been taking really good care of William and I.  At this scan we discovered that we have a big baby on our hands (sometimes you could measure big due to fluid).  He measures 9 days ahead and is in the 68th percentile.  His feet however... are in the 90th... Already 5.38 centimeters!  Hilarious to Michael and I who both have petite feet!

How Far Along? 27 weeks

Size of Baby: A Rutabaga, measuring 14.8 inches and as of friday is officially 2.7 pounds

Gender: A little man!  William Baker Mazhari!

Weight Gain:  A whopping 25 pounds

Maternity Clothes: Yes, and the few non maternity items I was squeezing into just aren't comfortable.  I scored a few loose flowey tops at the gap and a pair of maternity athletic capris that I will be living in.  I already have boxed up some maternity items that I have outgrown...

Nursery: William's carseat arrived on friday and I love staring at it and imagining taking him home from the hospital.  We went with the Britax B-Safe for BOB.

Movement:  Oh yes... he is now waking me up during the night consistantly.  I also can look down at times and see my entire tummy move... Hoping he decides to turn soon since he is currently transverse.

Symptoms: Heartburn, occasional braxton hicks, occasionally I sleep funny and cut off circulation to one of my arms and it hurts all day.

Sleep: Not as great this week.  Waking often 2-3 times a night.  Some nights I can't seem to fall asleep or stay asleep.  It's safe to say the pregnancy insomnia has begun.

Cravings:  Orange Juice, Icecream, Pizza

What I Miss:  Getting up out of bed or off the couch easily.

Best Moment This Week:  Michael sent me for my first ever massage yesterday and it was amazing. He gets massages often to cope with sciatica and the masseuse was incredibly sweet and gushed about how adorable Michael is when she sees him, he is so excited for the arrival of his son.  Totally made me melt to hear that and I felt fantastic afterwards!!

Looking Forward To: This weekend we are headed to Wilmington, NC to visit Michael's family.  His youngest cousin is graduating from high school and so everyone is going to celebrate.  I can't wait to see them all and enjoy the beach!

26 week bumpdate

How Far Along? 26 weeks

Size of Baby: A head of lettuce!!  (13.6-14.8 inches and 1.5-2.5 pounds)

Gender: A little man!  William Baker Mazhari!

Weight Gain: Up one pound from last week.  A grand total of 23 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Oh yes, although the dress above is non-maternity.  My friend Lauren gave me a bag of maternity clothes now that her little one is here--hallelujah!  She greatly enhanced my casual dress and flowey top collection.  I tried on a great pair of white maternity jeans yesterday at Target but couldnt pull the trigger... I think it may be too hot for them now...

Nursery: Our changing table arrived thursday and Michael promptly set that up.  All it needs are a few cute baskets for storage!  My grandmother also generously sent a check for our car seat, so that should be arriving any day now!

Movement:  When is he not moving?!  Sunday evening at a young adult cookout for our new church (we love it!) Michael had to stop mid conversation with someone to point at my very lopsided belly and ask "Is that William right THERE?!" he was wiggling a bit in his favorite spot and I guess it was very obvious in my fitted t-shirt dress!

Symptoms: Heartburn, occasional braxton hicks, feeling hotter than everyone around me, feet that swell in my beloved jack rogers if I'm standing around outside in the heat.

Sleep: Sleeping very well, with a nightly tinkle break around 3am or so. 

Cravings:  Icecream, yogurt, pimento cheese and crackers.

What I Miss:  Not much at this point honestly.  Ive begun to feel comfortable allowing myself a small splash of wine here and there with a meal and its amazing how much I savor the few sips I allow myself.  When I can actually have a glass or two of wine I don't know what I will do!

Best Moment This Week:  Saturday I enjoyed a good chunk of time at our pool and thoroughly enjoyed meeting and chatting with some new neighbors.  It just felt so good to be in the water!  Too bad I got a bit burnt... #palepeopleproblems

Looking Forward To: My glucose test is thursday... I'm more dreading it but also want to just get it over with!  At the cookout Sunday, a girl who was 38 weeks revealed she did indeed have gestational diabetes.  She failed so miserably at the first test that she wasn't even allowed to try the three hour.  Talking with her about it prepared me more in case I do end up having it.  Also, our baby shower invite came in the mail and I absolutely cannot wait to celebrate little William on July 18th!!

A couple of cute moments... here is my little guardian puppy.  She is so in tune with me these days it just melts me.  She won't leave my side and is so protective!  Here she is waiting for me to finish my shower...

And friday night (date night) at our fave little italian spot the waiter was adorable and brought two forks for me.  We were just so tickled!