It's the Final Countdown!! 1 week!

1 week from today I will have my sweet baby girl in my arms! I am sooo ready. I've been emotional lately because I am just so uncomfortable. My last day of work is tomorrow and today I just kept saying that I don't want to have to go in tomorrow. I still don't, but I'll feel more accomplished that I made it so far!

I went in for my last appointment today and everything is looking good for my c-section next week. Show up at 8 am!

Finally took some pictures of the nursery...

17 Days.....and Counting!

I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.....I think! I cannot believe my baby girl will be here in 17 days....17 DAYS!!! Am I ready?? Well, ready as I'm going to be. I am ready to see her and for this pain to go away and somewhat get back in shape. Am I ready for 2 kids, trying to breastfeed, and sleepless nights?? I guess I'm going to have to be! I know once she is here, I will be asking myself what life was like without her. I know things will fall into place, just like they did after Noah was born. These last few weeks, I have found myself falling more in love with my son. Sure, I still get frustrated with him when he doesn't listen...but other times I look at him and I love the bond that we have. He has been on a superhero kick lately, but there are times when he says 'I'm not superman right now, I'm your baby' and it just melts my heart. I wish I could take these last 2 weeks off work and spend time with just him. I think I'm going to miss my time with just him, but I know that just like Stephen and I will have to have date nights, I will have to have dates with my little man also. I never want him to feel like we replaced him or that he isn't loved...because boy is he loved!!

I have been in alot of discomfort lately...just ready I guess. My pelvis hurts so bad, it hurts to do anything. I DEFINATELY have a waddle going on, but I've been told thats been going on for a while. I know that August 18 will be here before I know it, but when I am so uncomfortable it still seems so far away. I can do this....I think I can, I think I can. It's worth it. I will soon have my baby girl in my arms. The baby girl that I prayed so long for. I truly believe that God gave me Noah first BECAUSE I wanted a girl so bad. And I am so glad he did. I wouldn't change it for the world. I am blessed <3

Almost 35 Weeks....and Torn

Almost 35 weeks!! Thursday will be 35 weeks, 4 weeks until I will be holding my baby girl! Other than the stress of not everything being done and ready I'm been thinking alot about my work situation. A couple weeks ago we basically decided that I would go back to weekends to save money on childcare, which is why I went to weekends to begin with. But after thinking about it more and more....I don't want to go back to weekends. I just got off of them and then found out I was pregnant. But I was relieved when we started having our family time back. It was so nice to be able to go back to church again and just being able to do things as a family again. Now, I'm about to have another baby and not sure how we will afford the childcare. I'm also torn because if I stay with the hours I have now, and pay the childcare, I won't have the time with Layla that I had with Noah. So do I stay working during the week and have family time on the weekends, or do I sacrifice our family time and go back to weekends and not have to pay childcare? I'm so torn....I really wish there was a way I didn't have to work....

So True

Saw this on a message board and had to share. There are sometimes people need filters when talking to pregnant women....


"Dear non-pregnant friend

hope you find these guidelines helpful in your interactions with pregnant women, as failing to follow them may result in serious physical harm. If you are thinking, surely she doesn’t mean me – then you should probably read this twice.

1. The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is ‘Congratulations!’ with enthusiasm. Any other response makes you a jerk.

2. Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the mother and father – not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, you may not ever use the phrase ‘my baby’.

3. On the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in 2, the pregnancy, birth, and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it…

4. The body of a pregnant woman should be treated the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone’s stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix, or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman.

5. Likewise, no woman wants to hear comments on her weight…ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about is pop, must be having twins, looks swollen or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments invite her to critique your physical appearance and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is ‘You look fabulous!’.

6. By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that the summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don’t need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes. Nor do we need to know how badly you will feel for us because we will be pregnant during the summer and how glad you are that YOU will not be pregnant this coming summer.

7. There is a reason that tickets to Labor & Delivery are not yet sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is actually not a public event. It may sound crazy, but some women really do not relish the idea of their mother, MIL, or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents. You weren’t invited to be there when the baby was created, you probably won’t be invited to be there when it comes out either.

8. Like everything else in life, unless you receive an invitation, you are NOT invited. This includes doctor appointments, ultrasounds, labor, delivery, the hospital, and the parent’s home. You do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to ‘help out’. If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it.

9. If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules, and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping.

10. The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less.



Sincerely,

All the Pregnant Women in the World"

33 Weeks Down.....6 More To Go!!

I can't believe I only have 6 weeks left!! The nursery isn't done yet, still need a few things and I PROMISE to post pictures when it's done. I need something else for the walls, just not sure what....it's driving me crazy!

I've gained well over the 15 pounds that the Dr wanted me to gain. Oh well, I'm not worried....but I can say that I CAN NOT wait to start working out again! I've been feeling more tired and sore after a day at work and more short of breath. Bending over to tie my shoes gets harder and harder in the morning. I don't and haven't really had any cravings really. I just want the stuff I don't allow myself to have on a regular basis....ahem...chocolate chip cookies at work...cough cough. And pizza always sounds good.

According to my recent 3d/4d ultrasound a couple of weeks ago, Layla looks alot like Noah and will have some hair. I never knew you could tell that from an u/s! I won't believe it until I see it though! I also got some maternity pictures done. Stephen really didn't see the point in doing them, but it was important to me so we did them. I never planned on ordering a ton, they were just for me, but I think they turned out great!

I thought having a little girl would be easy...

I have always DREAMED of having a baby girl. For one thing, I want the relationship like I have with my mom. But also, so I can dress her up! I mean, isn't that what every mom of a little girl longs for??? When I always tried to shop for Noah I would be drawn to the super cute girlie clothes and dreamed that one day I could buy the dresses and bows. But I'm quickly finding out that it's going to be harder than I thought! I look in Layla's closet now and it's full of clothes....graciously given to me from a friend. I've bought some, but most have been given to me. All of them start at 6 months so I don't even know what I'm going to dress her in for the first 6 months! I can buy some things now, but not for the first 3 months because everything will be out of season. So everything I have bought is like 12 months. It's always been a big deal to me to have shoes on my child. Noah never left the house without shoes. I know alot of moms don't care, but I always have. So now that I'm having a little girl I'm starting to stress. What if she doesn't have a bow or shoes to match?? I know it's petty to worry about shoes and bows....but I do! I always knew having a girl would be expensive, but man....I've got alot to learn!!

30 Weeks and Starting to Feel Stressed....

I'm 30 weeks this week and I can't believe it! It seems like it has gone by so fast! My little Layla-bug will be here before we know it. I am feeling better than I have felt in several weeks, no more sciatic pain!! I've gained more than my Dr would like me to, but I'm not worried about that anymore. I'm enjoying this pregnancy, because after August 18th, I will be back on track. I'm already looking forward to resuming my workouts. I have missed zumba!!

I'm starting to feel the stress though. I feel like there is so much we still have to do. Layla's room isn't finished yet, but hopefully it won't be too much longer. Her closet is getting full but I still don't feel like she has alot for the first several months. I was given a bunch of clothes, but most of them are 6 months and up....so I'm already worried about what I'm going to dress her in! We don't have alot of the necessities, like a changing pad or sheets. I wasn't sure if I was going to have a shower this time around so I haven't bought much...and now I feel like I'm running out of time.

And I'm also starting to think about how finacially strained we are going to be. Having a newborn in daycare for 3-4 days and Noah in CDO for 4 days, I am actually wondering how we're going to make it. I came back to work during the week to give us family time but was that the right decision? I didn't enjoy working weekends, but it was nice to be off during the week and not have childcare for the first year of Noah's life. I don't regret putting him in CDO, he loves it. But now I am already starting to think about how Layla will be in daycare and I won't get that bonding time with her that I did with Noah. I just wish we were in a position that I didn't have to work, but I know that every mom feels that way.

On a positive note, we are going for our 3-D ultrasound this weekend, and I can't wait to get a look to see what she's going to look like!