River's due date

How far along? Today is my due date...and no baby. 
Total weight gain/loss: 29 lbs. 
Maternity clothes? nope. I found a pair of elastic waist jeans at H&M that fit but my maternity jeans just never fit my belly right. and I'm still just wearing a larger sized shirt, mostly tank tops with open button ups or cardigans. 
Stretch marks? nope. Still doing the belly massages and exfoliating. 
Sleep: still sleeping fairly well. I wake up to use the bathroom or from being hungry and sometimes have trouble falling back asleep but thats maybe once or twice a week.
Best moment this week: FINALLY finishing everything in River's nursery. I need to take pictures!
Have you told family and friends: yup, everyone knows!
Movement: All the time, even at 40 weeks this little boy hasn't slowed down!
Food cravings: I wanted a veggie burger so bad the past couple days, I got one today and it was blah, ok. So now I'm over that craving but I went to the store to buy a bags of apples, sweet potatoes and cuties and ended up with sooo much...so my cravings must be pickled beets, pistachios, sweet potato chips, coconut greek yogurt, honey nut cherrios, basmati rice, stir fry veggies and of course, chips and salsa. At least now we have more than just frozen foods in the house for after we're home from the hospital. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: I've been having nausea in the evenings around 9 if I don't have a snack after dinner.  I usually have some cheese and an apple but sometimes Luke and I will share a bowl of cereal or I'll make cinnamon toast.  
Have you started to show yet: ha, yes. though my belly has shrunk it seems because he's sooo low!
Leakage: yup. I peed myself recently and thought my water had broke. :(
Gender prediction: Boy. and I was right!!!
Labor Signs: I'm in pre term labor and I'm dilated 2.5 cm and 80% effaced. Lots of contractions and cramping and pressure but nothing that equals real labor. 
Belly Button in or out? In/out. 
Wedding rings on or off? on. 
Happy or Moody? Happy. 
Weekly Wisdom: Don't tell people anything because it just becomes the game telephone. Somehow I ended up in labor today on facebook. And someone told someone who told someone else that I was being induced tomorrow. 
Milestones: We made it to the due date! My doctor was 80% sure I'd have River at 37 weeks because of the extra fluid and his size prediction. But we made it to the due date so I had as long of a chance to go natural as my doctor deemed safe. Now tomorrow I have an ultrasound for a fluid level check and to make sure all is still good with River and set an induction date before I get to a full 41 weeks. 

week 36

How far along? 35 weeks 2 days!! 
Total weight gain/loss: 23 lbs
Maternity clothes? nope. maternity jeans are still too big or just crap because I can't get them to stay up. Monty ripped one of my maternity sweaters so I can't wear it anymore and I only have one other sweater. I do have a dress but I haven't worn it. 
Stretch marks? nope. I give myself belly massages a few times a day and exfoliate every other day and make sure my belly is never dry...so heres hoping! 
Sleep: still sleeping good, I wake up a bit more either to pee or for no reason but other than that I sleep well!
Best moment this week: its only Tuesday so there is still plenty of the week left, but as of now its been this new almond oil body oil I got. It feels amazing on my belly and whenever I massage it on, River goes crazy. 
Have you told family and friends: yup, everyone knows!
Movement: All the time.  Its painful now because I have a torn ligament or something or the left side of my belly and the right side is numb so everything feels so weird/uncomfortable/painful but I'm trying to stay positive!
Food cravings: watermelon, pineapple, avocado, sourdough bread sandwiches with tofurky, leaf lettuce and a bit of mayo with salt and pepper!
Anything making you queasy or sick: the pre labor contractions I've been having for a week...they happen more often than braxton hicks and they are starting to make my stomach churn. 
Have you started to show yet: oh yes. 
Leakage: yup. 
Gender prediction: Boy. and I was right!!!
Labor Signs: I'm in pre term labor and I'm dilated 1 cm. 
Belly Button in or out? In/out. 
Wedding rings on or off? on. 
Happy or Moody? Happy. 
Weekly Wisdom: I should probably rest/take it easy more than I am but I can't sit still for long even if it feels nice to prop my feet up. I'm stuck inside today since the weather was bad this morning and Luke drove himself to work and I'm ready to rip my hair out!!
Milestones: I have all the baby clothes and diapers washed!! We have River's coming home outfit picked out and my bag is 95% packed, River's is 100% packed and Luke's is 50% packed. The nursery isn't 100% complete but we only have a couple picture ledges to hang that will be used for books and I have to decide if I want to make a toy box or get cute baskets for his toys. We still have our friends shower coming up so I don't want to buy too much still but I also don't want to wait to buy things...I just want his room finished and to feel like we have all the essentials and that he can come whenever he wants, which is hopefully soon!!

maternity photo ideas!!

One thing about this pregnancy that I am most excited for is our maternity photos. I have been thinking about them the whole time and what I would want them to be like. I'm not really a winter person and was worried I wouldn't be as excited about having maternity photos taken in Dec or Jan but ever since I started a Pinterest board for inspiration...I can't wait!!

We were going to have them done in Nov but things fell through, so we've moved them onto either the end of Dec or Jan. One of Luke's best friends is going to be taking them for us and he is wonderful! He shot amazing photos at our wedding and I am so excited to see how these photos will turn out.

Luke came up with the idea a couple months ago of having the majority of them taken inside at our house, just being casual/going about our day...making breakfast, drinking coffee/tea, playing with Monty and snuggling in bed. At first, I wasn't sure and wanted them outside but the more Luke and I talked about it and all the cute set ups we could do, the more and more I became excited!! We bought a beautiful house and have worked hard at making it beautiful and cozy, so its setting for our photos as we make this house a home for our little family.  I love that these photos will be uniquely as ours and mean something when we look back on them after we've moved out of this house one day and remember where we started and that those rooms hold those memories and many more.

Here are a few of my favorites that have inspired our at home photo shoot!

sources on pinterest

We'll also be having newborn/family photos take after River is here that continue on the at home story. We thought it would be cute to have the same sort of photos, doing the same sorts of things but with River incorporated into them.

This is such an amazing, special time in our life and I'm so excited to capture it.
I haven't felt like many people in our lives have been that enthusiastic or involved in our pregnancy or that I have got to share many of my firsts with other people because we don't live where everyone else does. I think most women want to feel a little extra special during their pregnancies and I just haven't felt that, so to be able to get dolled up and have photos taken just feels extra special to me and I know it does to Luke as well. 

How far along? 29 weeks 4 days. At my last appt I was measuring ahead and the doc thought I'd be closer to mid Feb due date but as of my appt on Tuesday my belly hasn't grown and is back on track for my original due date of Feb. 23rd...so its like a week got taken away from me, ha.
Total weight gain/loss: 16lbs
Maternity clothes? I haven't worn the maternity jeans since the last time. I have two maternity sweaters and two maternity dresses...I've worn the sweaters and not the dresses but there is still time! I can still fit into my jeans with the hair band trick and most of my shirts/sweaters still fit. 
Stretch marks? nope. I thought I got one and poor Luke endured a long evening of crying and freaking out. turns out my underwear is just too tight. 
Sleep: still sleeping good.
Best moment this week: I lost my mucus plug last week and wasn't scared but nervous a bit that my cervix was starting to open...I called my doc and he said as long as I didn't start having contractions he'd wait to check me at my appt on Tuesday. My cervix is open a tiny bit but nothing to be concerned about, so that was nice to hear!
Have you told family and friends: yup, everyone knows!
Movement: All the time. He goes bat shit crazy sometimes and it makes me wonder what he is doing!!
Food cravings: it was coconut donuts...I fulfilled that craving and now I'm good. Eating super healthy these last couple months to keep my body in tip top shape!
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope!
Have you started to show yet: yup, I've popped!
Leakage: some
Gender prediction: Boy. and I was right!!!
Labor Signs: Braxton hicks have started but they're nothing I can't handle!
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? on. 
Happy or Moody? Happy. 
Weekly Wisdom: Always tell the person/people you love how much you appreciate them. Luke and I have always told each other "thank you" at least once a day whether it be just for loving one another or for what meal I made or letting him play Madden instead of doing dishes or for the times he snuggles into my neck and gives me one soft kiss. I am so lucky to have Luke as my husband, the things he does for us and how hard he works and his ethics and priorities never cease to amaze me. I never have to worry and I think that has helped me to have such a carefree pregnancy...I haven't been nervous about a single thing and even after our birthing class, I'm still nonchalant about it all. Knowing I have such an amazing partner has kept me upbeat and positive and made me realize that its just our little family that matters during this journey and no one else! 
Milestones: We had our birthing class and enjoyed it so much! Next Thursday is our hospital tour and that Saturday is our breastfeeding class. I've also picked out my large purse/diaper bag and ordered a little suitcase for River's hospital items and plan on going shopping for all the hospital essentials after Christmas! Its so fun to plan and get organized!!

You will...

I read this on another blog and thought it was great...I was told/heard all these things about what till happen to me during pregnancy and at the beginning, I believed it all and was sure it was going to happen to me. I was dreading it and wondered if I would enjoy pregnancy at all because I am not one for not feeling like myself and the thought of my body not feeling like my own, terrified me. 
Then as the weeks went on, I realized I am not like everyone else and my pregnancy wouldn't be like anyone else's and this made me happy.
Then as the weeks went on, I realized I am not like everyone else and my pregnancy wouldn't be like anyone else's either...thank goodness!!
1) Your boobs will get ginormous. It took a long time for my boobs to grow at all. I wasn't sure they ever would and wondered if I would be able to breastfeed. I wasn't too upset though because up until a few weeks ago, I didn't have to buy any new bras and the only reason I did was because a strap broke, otherwise I think I would have been able to survive a little longer with my pre-pregnancy bras. 

2) YOU will get enormous. Not for me, not yet and I don't plan on letting it happen. I didn't start gaining weight until about week 17 and even then it was 3 lbs. Even with morning sickness, I still managed to get out for runs and to the gym at least once a week between weeks 7-13 and then we bought a treadmill off of one of Luke's friends and it has been my best friend, along with some pregnancy DVD's and my Barre class. I love working out and being healthy and knew I was not going to let pregnancy change me. I also have my acupuncturist focus on points that controls cravings and know that has helped me tremendously!

3) Your feet will go up a shoe size. Nope, still wearing the same size. 

4) You will become a moody bitch. I haven't been very hormonal at all. I cried a few times while I had morning sickness because I wasn't able to work out as much as I was used to and I missed it. It helped control my hormones and keep me happy, so not having that outlet left me feeling out whack on top of feeling sick all the time and dry heaving/throwing up everyday. Lately, if I've been upset its because I've felt quite alone during this pregnancy, my mom watches my niece and can't come keep me company or hardly talk on the phone, my mother in law doesn't drive and most everyone else is just busy. I haven't had many people to talk to about my pregnancy or my appointments or share ultrasounds with or clothes I've bought or nursery plans, its mainly Luke. I know he cares and is so involved, I love it but I still sometimes just feel alone. 


5) Your nails will grow fast and beautiful.  My nails have always grown fast, so I haven't noticed a difference.

6) Your hair will be amazing.   I actually lost a lot of hair during the first trimester, it grossed Luke out a lot (poor guy was constantly covered in dog fur and my hair) 

7) You will have acne or a ton of zits. Thank goodness, no. My skin has been great and I feel very fortunate. Now that its getting colder, my skin is getting dry but I found a new moisturizer to try out so I'm hoping that helps!

8) You will have a crazy "nesting" instinct.   I do have that crazy nesting feeling but we moved into our house almost two months ago and I have been focusing on decorating it and making it a home...I haven't done anything yet to the nursery. 

9) Your back will kill you. Nope, not really. I have scoliosis, so that bothered me pre-pregnancy if I did too much and nothing has changed. 

10) You will have frequent headaches and/or migraines. I did suffer from this. It was horrible. It caused a lot of vomiting and a lot days spent inside because I was scared to drive. 

11) You will be super constipated. Nope. Again, thank goodness!

12) You will have very vivid dreams. I've had maybe two. And only a handful of dreams about River. 

13) You will have very specific food cravings. During the first trimester, they weren't really cravings...it was just the only food I could keep down so we ate it constantly and that was Indian or Thai and Chipotle. Luckily, the weekend we moved I started feeling normal again and got back to eat clean and healthy. Since then I've had two specific food cravings, M&M McFlurries (I ate three in two days and haven't wanted them since) and a biscuit with jam from a restaurant in Columbus, it was the most glorious thing I've had during this pregnancy.

14) Smells, like the smell of coffee, will make you nauseous. The only smells that bothered me were chemicals or cleaning supplies and now they don't anymore. I did make a parsnip/cabbage soup the other week and the smell of it made me sick but those are the only two things. 

15) You will be SUPER hungry all of the time. This just started happening and I've already learned my lesson. I gorged myself on chips and salsa yesterday, which made me super thirsty, so I drank a big glass of water and promptly threw it all up. This was all after eating my dinner 30 mins before. I need to remember I do not have a lot of room in my belly anymore. 

16) You will gain a ton of water weight. I haven't retained any water weight, yay!!

17) Watch out for hemorrhoids! Nope!! I hope it stays that way. 

18) You will be exhausted during the first trimester. I wasn't at all. I napped maybe twice and only because I had a horrible headache and would rather sleep through it than be awake. I was able to keep up the grocery shopping and cleaning and walking Monty and working out pretty well. 

19) You will have a TON of energy during the 2nd trimester. I have felt 98% normal during the 2nd trimester, I've had a few days where I feel exhausted but I don't give into it. I do a lot, Luke worries that I do too much but I can't stop, I've got too much to do and hate sitting still for too long. 

20) You may get varicose veins. Nope, I feel lucky!


The majority of things I was so nervous about hasn't happened to me and I am so happy and grateful for that. It was really important to me to enjoy this pregnancy as Luke and I aren't sure if we will have another and I didn't want to remember my possibly only pregnancy as a horrible time. 

I'm in my 24th week now and I can't believe it. Time felt like it was crawling by and while it still does, I don't know how I'm in my 24th week already...its craziness!! I'm so anxious to meet River and talk about it daily, Luke reminds me not to wish for him here too soon, that he needs to grow and become stronger and I know all that is true, I just wish I didn't have to wait maybe 16 more weeks!!

week 22

How far along? 21 weeks 4 days...I think. ha, I'm losing track!
Total weight gain/loss: 11lbs. 
Maternity clothes? my mom bought me a pair of maternity jeans and they're a little too long for my taste so I have to take them to get hemmed. I did wear them one day though and my bump is not big enough to hold them up yet, I kept having to pull them up.
Stretch marks? nope.
Sleep: still sleeping good.
Best moment this week: Luke saw River kicking!
Have you told family and friends: yup, everyone knows!
Movement: Yeah, usually a few times a day. Its a muted feeling...I have an anterior placenta so my doctor said I probably won't ever feel strong movement or see him rolling over or see his feet.
Food cravings: sweet potatoes, avocado and sour candies. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: chemical smells still. fast movements, veggie burgers
Have you started to show yet: yup, I've popped!
Leakage: no.
Gender prediction: Boy. and I was right!!!
Labor Signs: No. Too early.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? on. 
Happy or Moody? Happy. 
Weekly Wisdom: even when I'm tired and my stomach hurts from being stretched and I'm tired of eating every fews hours and get sad about gaining weight, I need to remember how precious this time is and how lucky I am. 
Milestones: We bought the stroller, crib and mattress!!!

week 20

How far along? 19 week 4 days
Total weight gain/loss: still around 118. 
Maternity clothes? not yet, I have two maternity sweaters and one dress but they're all too big for now. I've ordered regular jeans in a larger size, so hopefully those work for awhile! Right now, its jcrew minnie pants and fitted tanks with open flannels or longer sweaters.
Stretch marks? nope.
Sleep: still sleeping good. Last night was the first night I had to get up and pee every 5 mins until I fell asleep. 
Best moment this week: Moo has started cuddling with my belly-laying his head on it. 
Have you told family and friends: yup, everyone knows!
Movement: Yup! I started feeling him kick last week. Luke is able to feel it too and a couple times I was able to see the kicks. 
Food cravings: Grapefruit soda. Pink lady apples. pineapple, Indian food, roasted potatoes, salads, water, chili.
Anything making you queasy or sick: chemical smells still. fast movements, veggie burgers
Have you started to show yet: yeah, I've got a tiny bump. its definitely bigger in the evening than in the morning. 
Leakage: no.
Gender prediction: Boy. and I was right!!!
Labor Signs: No. Too early.
Belly Button in or out? In.
Wedding rings on or off? on. 
Happy or Moody? Happy. 
Weekly Wisdom: I need to remember to eat something every couple hours even if I feel ok because it will come back to haunt me when I least expect it. 
Milestones: We've registered and have the nursery all planned out!!!