40 weeks.... THE END!!! :)

Wow I can't believe that I've reached the end of the pregnancy! So many thoughts and emotions are currently running through me at this time as I've longed to see this moment for SOO long now to see my little girl and to begin being a mother. After my husband and I lost our first pregnancy August 18, 2012, it was so tough to think that it could potentially happen again. During this pregnancy I actually began to bleed at 7 weeks, and we learned everything was ok, but the thought of potentially losing another baby was too hard to think of. Praise God that we've reached the end and are days away from meeting our little girl and beginning a brand new life with her involved. We're so thankful for all that we've learned throughout this last year, mainly trusting in God knowing that His plan is ultimately perfect as ours is always flawed and self-centered. So thankful that we've been learning this lesson over and over again, and pray that we never take our life for granted. We've been so blessed even throughout the tough last year that we've had, ultimately God gave us the joy and peace that we needed throughout the tough moments. So thankful that soon things are going to be so different in our house and looking forward to the many nights of no sleep as we wake up to see our little girls face and take care of her. Can't wait to meet you little girl! :)

How far along?  40 weeks! Wow, to think that our due date arrived just yesterday is absolutely amazing!

Total weight gain/measurements: Started at 142 and have gained... and since my last midwife appt (last Friday) was 41lbs, but I'll find out this Friday to know my current amt

Maternity clothes: Oh yes! I don't know how I would be able to survive without them.

Stretch marks: Yes... It was so tough to deal with when I first saw one, but I realized that overall this will remind me of the amazing time in my life that I was pregnant with my daughter. 

Best moment this week: Reaching my due date!!!! :)

Miss anything? Sleep! I'm up every 2 hours now to run to the bathroom, or just being so uncomfortable. She's clearly getting me on her "wake-up" schedule that I'll soon be on in just a few more days.
Movement: Yes! The most movement she's doing now is either rotating herself around, or pushing her head out. It can be kind of painful when she shoves her head out, but it also reminds me that she's alive and doing good.

Anything making you queasy or sick? No, thankfully!

Gender:  baby girl

Labor signs: tons of braxton hicks, which have been getting more and more intense. no actual contractions as of yet.

Belly button in or out? Finally popped!

Wedding rings on or off? OFF! Saw my rings today, and can't wait to put them back on! 

Happy or moody most of the time: Anxious! I'm so anticipating the moment that I get to hold my little girl for the first time!

Looking forward to: Holding my sweet baby girl, and getting to share in the joys of raising her with my husband! It's going to be such an incredible experience that we get to share together, and I can't wait!!!

(Weeks 39 & 40)

Week 38...

How far along?  38 weeks! Wow, only 2 more weeks to go!! OH MY GOODNESS!

Total weight gain/measurements: Started at 142 and have gained... and since my last midwife appt on Friday, I've gained 35lbs.

Maternity clothes: You know it! I love my maternity clothes!

Stretch marks: Yes, actually as of week 37.. some started to show on my lower belly! Man, I thought I might make it to the end without having them really show up, but now they're coming in nice and light.. let's hope they stay that way.

Sleep: Tougher. Waking up about 3 hours after I get into bed to run to the bathroom. Of course since I have less room in my bladder (due to baby taking it all up) I'm constantly having to empty it.

Best moment this week: Having a great weekend of seeing my cousin Wesley who just returned from China after teaching English there for 1 year. ALSO, my little niece, Lucy was finally born!!!! YEAH!!! Now Carlos and I realize how close our time is coming to holding our little girl in our arms. Carlos was so excited to hold her, and was desiring to hold our little girl all the more! Just 2 more weeks baby!!!

(Carlos holding baby Lucy, just about 14 hours old here!)

Miss anything? Not having stretch marks, not having someone sit on my bladder, and getting better sleep at night.. honestly, it's ALLLLL worth it and I would do it again in a second!

Movement: Definitely! Now that she's getting bigger though, she can't kick me and punch me as much, but she pushes her head REALLY hard against my stomach and so that can hurt a little, but I know she has a little bit of room.. so I don't blame her.

Anything making you queasy or sick? No, phew! :)

Gender:  baby girl

Labor signs: The swollen ankles have returned, and I can't seem to get them to stay away.. oh well! And more braxton hicks, but thankfully no contractions! :)

Symptoms: none

Belly button in or out? Innie! I actually am thinking it might NOT pop!

Wedding rings on or off? Off... :( It was beginning to get stuck, so I had to take them off... 

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy! I love having this little girl inside of me.

Looking forward to: Getting her carseat base in the car (the carseat is ready to go), finishing up her room, packing our hospital bags! Just have a few more things to get ready and the house cleaned before she comes! Oh yeah and starting maternity leave on July 24th.. oh I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT!!! It will be great to be home for a few days, rest, and get some stuff cleaned, and hopefully spend a little bit of time with some friends!

(Weeks 37 & 38)

Breech baby, please turn...

So for those who are unaware, my sweet little girl is currently breech (she's turned either sideways or having her head up.) In order to have a natural birth she must be head down in order to pass through my birth canal head first. Unfortunately she's been breech for months now, and she isn't trying to turn. Thanks to the wonderful knowledge from my amazing Bradley Instructor, we've been given some great advice on things to do. First, we've been using a great Chiropractor whose currently working on the Webster Technique to correct my body in order to make sure that I'm aligned properly so that baby can (hopefully) turn. At first my pelvis and my birth canal were turned a bit to the side and not straight, as well as having extremely tight ligaments (making it impossible for her to turn head down, and taking up her room). Usually babies stay higher in your uterus if the birth canal isn't straight because they technically cannot go head down and be comfortable. Thankfully the chiropractor has corrected those, and now just continuing to make sure I stay straight with my pelvis and keeping my ligaments nice and loose. Since going to 3 appointments now, I've realized how much she's dropped even lower!!! If I thought that her sitting on my bladder was bad before, HAHA, that was a joke! I'm constantly running to the bathroom because she's dropped even lower. Now it's just the waiting game of her turning... will she do it?!?! Now she has the room to, so we're just hoping she sure does the flipping! 

Next, I've been working on some of the exercises to try to get my body to hopefully help her to learn to turn the other way. There are things to elevate your bottom off the floor, and ones to put your chest forward causing your head to be going towards your knees, so the baby can hopefully desire to turn. (www.spinningbabies.com is a good website with good insight)

Lastly, tons of prayer! It's about the only comforting thing that I can do at this time knowing that ultimately it's out of my hands. A friend even brought it to my attention that maybe she isn't turning because God hasn't designed my body to have a natural birth, maybe my birth canal is too small, etc. and that just made me realize that I don't know everything and that the Lord ultimately is calling the shots, and I MUST be okay with His choice. I keep being reminded about how my plans are never going to work out just the way that I plan them, and that I have to be prepared for all potential options. 

So now the time comes down to my hubby and I seeing that our (once) backup plan of having a c-section only in an emergency, that this may be the main option that it comes down to. As tough as it's been to deal with losing the potential option of having an all natural, medicine/drug free birth, we realize that her coming out safely is the most important goal. Thankfully through prayer, I'm coming to terms with it, and honestly I'm okay with it now. I still pray that she does turn, but this is another time when I'm truly learning to trust in God in His ultimate decisions. He's taken care of my for the last 24+ years of life, so He will continue to no matter what happens, He's in control. It's a comfort to trust knowing that God is handling things, and that I'm able to sit back and let Him do what He's already planned for me. Throughout my whole pregnancy God has truly shown me many times how He is handling things and doing them for my good, even when it seems like the worst situation possible. Praise God for always taking care of His children and never leaving us. Such a faithful God!!! 

Just wanted to give an update, and if you would like to join us in prayer.. please pray that she will turn, and if not that the delivery goes well! Thanks! :)

9 MONTHS!!!! (week 36)

How far along?  36 weeks! Wow, only 4 more weeks to go!!! OH MY GOODNESS, this is getting to be too exciting!

Total weight gain/measurements: Started at 142 and have gained... and since my last midwife appt I'm around 32lbs now (but I'll find out this Friday for sure)

Maternity clothes: Oh yes! I love them so much! I love my maternity pants!

Stretch marks: Still none, and I've not been doing the Vitamin E oil daily, since it's getting so hot outside. At night I've still been using it (for the most part) but none as of yet! Praise God!

Sleep: Not so great... I'm up about 1-2 times a night, and during the night and now my back hurts at times when I wake up in the morning.

Best moment this week: Had my church baby shower this weekend and also had pregnancy photos taken by my mom and bestie Rachel.

(This is one of the photos taken from the pregnancy shoot)

Miss anything? Not feeling so full all the time.

Movement: YES! I need her to slow down, as she's soooo actively rolling. I want her to stay still in the head down position - preferably.

Anything making you queasy or sick? No, thankfully!

Gender:  baby girl

Labor signs: Some braxton hicks

Symptoms: none

Belly button in or out? Still an innie! Trying to push out, but NOT YET.. hold off belly button!

Wedding rings on or off? Off.. :(

Happy or moody most of the time: happy! enjoying pregnancy!

Looking forward to: getting her stuff put away! 

(Weeks 35 & 36)