Weeks in Pictures| Weekend Edition

This week, I've spent a lot of time thinking of how beautiful life really is. I know how cliche it is for me to say that, but I'm so very grateful for everything I have right now. I truly do count all of my blessings. I wake up and walk out the door every morning and see such a beautiful sunrise. It takes my breath away every time.

This week I took a "selfie" and I was proud. I fit into one of my old dresses. I didn't look like a whale and I put some lipstick on to pull the whole look together. 

I spent a lot of time with family this week. I usually spend a lot of time with my mom during the week, but this week Jon got to be with us for a couple of days. It's always nice to see him. We didn't do much, but we just got to spend a lot of time catching up on each other's lives over our favorite Filipino food.  He's leaving soon for boot camp and I don't know what I will do without my best friend by my side. Oh man.  I swear that he is my twin, we're never apart. I got to meet his new kitty, Beowulf. Oh man! That little guy is so precious. I miss when my babies were that small. I loved him from the moment I saw him. He even let me take pictures of him too:) Apparently, we have a thing for black kitties!

Sassafras finally let me take pictures of her this week. It's weird when she's not being a camera whore.

Picture for Daddy:)

"Ma! Where's mah food?"

Sass's favorite place to freak you out

"Sexy" Sass pose

I spent time with Stacy as well this week and Melvin of course. Can you tell I'm a little kitty crazy?!? We got our toes done. I'm so excited that we did that. It was long over due.

I really love simple weeks like these.

Durian Week

How far along?  33 weeks and 3 days! 

Total weight gain/loss:  142.2 this week. A +2 lb gain from last week and an overall gain of + 23.7 lbs. 

Maternity clothes?  Same pants but the band part is getting more and more snug. 

Stretch marks? Nope! Last week I had a scare of them but I was right when I thought I was allergic to something. I was allergic to some lotion I got from someone else. Whew. Never again. I do have a scratch from Sass wanting to cuddle. Damn her!  

Sleep:  I wish I could get more of it. Haha. I wake up in the middle of the night now to pee even if I go before bed. I'm use to it now. I'm also not even getting up to my alarm clocks to get up with Waymon anymore . I lay there and go back to sleep because I can't seem to wake up. 

Best moments this week:
-Seeing baby girl this week at the doctors. :) She is head down and measuring a week earlier. We've got a big baby. 

- Completing more of baby girl's room. It's funny how perfect her room is coming together, while Waymon and my bedroom looks like crap compared to hers. Everything in her room matches perfectly and it's so nice.
-Completing our picture walls in the hallway. It's so amazing finally seeing it all come together.
-Reading to her this week in her rocking chair. The rocking chair in her room is the same one that was used to rock me to sleep by my grandmother when I was a baby. I cried rocking in the chair thinking about how close I am to becoming a mom.
-Sass climbing on me to be held on my chest. Sass is slowly getting the hint that she will no longer be the baby in our family. I really do savor the times that Sass is just as sweet as can be with me.

Miss anything?  Not waking up in the middle of the night. 

Movement: All the time!  But her absolute favorite time to get crazy is when I wake up and right as I'm laying down. She'll freak daddy out too with her moving sometimes haha. She's very private over her movement though. She doesn't like it being pointed out at all. She also doesn't like anyone poking her to move. 

Food cravings: Croissants with nutella and bananas... Mmmm drool over that. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope! .  

Gender: little mama 

Labor signs: Nah! 

Symptoms: Sore pelvis. I can feel baby girl pushing on it a little bit. 

Belly button in or out? In! But I think it's slowly making itself an outie 

Wedding rings on or off? On!! 

Happy or moody most of the time:  VERY VERY HAPPY! 

Looking forward to:  Baby shower planning, baby shower partying, doctor appt in 2 weeks, Jon's birthday <3 & having a baby :) 

Elvis Pancakes

I don't know what Elvis was thinking when we wanted bacon, peanut butter and bananas together , but pretty sure that he was pregnant. This morning I walked downstairs feeling like Elvis and whipped up these bad boys. I have to say there really is nothing more satisfying than pancakes on a weekend morning. Waymon and I are always on the go and mornings like these we are able to sit and talk forever over a good hearty breakfast. 

Ingredients:

-instant pancake mix

-2 bananas, mashed 
-1/3 a pack of bacon, chopped and cooked
-1/4- 1/3 cup melted peanut butter

Directions:

1.     Place pan on stove and turn your stove on to medium high heat

2.     Mix pancakes ingredients as directed on the box ( you should just add water )

2.     Mix in all other ingredients 

3.     Ladle down your pancake mix onto your pan

4.     Flip pancake when it starts to bubble on the edges

5.     Take pancakes off of pan when done!

6.     Devour man-cakes with syrup

 

I'm really impressed at how good these bad boys turned out, but let's face it does anything with bacon in it dissapoint? 

The Birth "Plan"

I know that I can't control anything at this point in my pregnancy. It's all up to H on what is going to happen and how they're going to happen, but I have thought about every option we have to deliver her. I honestly, thought that I would be delivering her C-Section because of my family's history which I'm not opposed to but we're pushing for ( ha oh the irony) a normal vaginal birth. Either way, as long as I get to see my girl we're happy campers. :) 

ATTENDANTS

At my hospital I can have up to 3 people in the room with me while I deliver. Frankly, all I need is Waymon to be there. I don't know what I do without my husband so much so that I don't even want to think about it. He's definitely my rock in everything. He knows how to calm me down and just make me laugh through the toughest times.

 Other than Waymon, Stacy asked  to be in the room with me as well. My best friend beside me isn't a bad thing. :) I've also kept Jon in mind to be in the room with me, but I don't know if I want to put my little brother through all of that.

 However, if I do have a C-section Waymon will be the only one in there with me. 

AMENITIES

I'm not keen on bringing music to play or dimming the lights while I deliver. All I care about is that everything is peaceful and relaxing during labor and delivery. I'll take my Ipad and phone with me so that I can occupy myself (hello Pinterest!) , but other than that I'm good. I stress easily, so I don't need any unnecessary crap when I'm trying to relax. 

HOSPITAL ADMISSION & PROCEDURES

If at all possible, I want Waymon to be by my side at all times. I'd probably freak out without him there. Unless, I have a C-section where I know that there will be a time where I can't be with him.  

LABOR PROPS

I don't think I'll be needed any labor props other than my warm rice bag. I think I'd kill myself trying to bounce on a huge labor ball. 

PAIN RELIEF

I'm pretty good with pain. I don't usually make that much of a fool of myself when I am in pain. I keep to myself and try to breathe through what I can. I want to say that I'm going to man up and not get an epidural, but I'm not superwoman. I'm going to try to stand it as long as possible, but I'm going to get an epidural. I know that my OB is not joking when he tells me that our baby is big. I know she is. I can feel her all the time. Pain meds and me are going to be BFF's. The only time I wouldn't get the epidural is if I'm truly too late in getting it and I have to push her our immediately. There's nothing I can do about the latter. 

VAGINAL BIRTH

During birth: I don't want the mirror. NO NO NO. Waymon can also be right beside me when I'm delivering. He doesn't want to see the "miracle" happening before his eyes and neither do I. That's something we can just leave up to our imaginations. 

I want Waymon to cut the umbilical cord as soon as he can. I don't want to wait on that. I know that some people wait while it's still pulsing. 

After birth: I'd like to hold my baby skin to skin. My hospital is good with not cleaning the baby and weighing her right after she comes out. I want to breast feed as soon as she comes out so that we bond. After all of that they can take her and do what they need to do as long as she doesn't need immediate medical attention.

 

Pictures are fine after delivery not during. No videos will come out of that room. The one thing I want to remember is seeing my girl's face for the first time and I can take mental pictures for that one. Other than that, I don't care how many pictures are taken AFTER baby and I are all camera ready. Labor and delivery is hard .. I can say that I don't want to remember me looking like a hot mess on a gross table. 

C-SECTION

I want Waymon there as much as he can be. I don't think I have the option of breast feeding right after delivery. So my doctor and nurses will have to do what they have to with baby girl . But I would like Waymon to hold H as soon as she's good to be held. I really want bonding to happen after delivery either way. 

POSTPARTUM

I want to be there for any newborn procedures as I can and if I can't be there I want Waymon to always be there with her. I'd like H to stay in our room if she can so that we can be with her. I'm not worried about how tired I will be or anything like that. I will sleep when she does so that I don't miss anything. 

FEEDING ISSUES

I plan to breastfeed exclusively until 10 days before going back to work. At that point, I will be introducing her to breast milk through a bottle with Waymon. I won't be feeding her with a bottle so that she doesn't get nipple confusion. Waymon will be doing bottle feedings as well as anyone else who has/wants to feed her. I want her to have the best nutrition possible and I know that that's through breast milk. If there is any reason why she can't take breast milk that will be the only reason why I would change my mind. We won't be using any pacifiers either for her. 

DISCHARGE

I'd like to be discharged as soon as possible from the hospital. I don't want to stay there longer than I have to be there.

What's in My Hospital Bag?

Here I am 32 weeks in and I've had my hospital bag packed since I was 25-26 weeks. I'm a little over eager about baby girl's big day... to say the least. I've had all of the general things I would need packed since then, but not until a couple weeks ago was I actually really prepared to go to the hospital with the bag. I know that I won't be able to be as prepared as I'd to be since right now it's all up to my girl on when everything happens and how it happens, but I'm happy knowing that I prepared what I could.

I have three separate bags to bring to the hospital: mommy & baby bag, daddy's bag and the "Oh @#$% I forgot ...." bag.

Mommy & Baby Bag

Baby girl's bag:

I didn't want to bring diapers or anything like that to the hospital because they'll be providing a lot of that type of stuff there. I just wanted her to have her clothes, because I don't know how long we will be there. I also wanted her to have her essential stuff so that she's comfortable.

Clothing:

1. 3 pairs of socks
2. 1 beanie
3. 1 pair of scratch mittens
4. 2 sets of jammies
5. 3 pairs of leggings
6. 3 regular onesies 
7. 2 white onesies 
8. 1 going home outfit :) 

Baby essentials: 

1. 1 swaddling blanket
2. 1 burp rag
3. 1 blanket 
4. 1 breast feeding infinity scarf
5. 1 soft toy

 I didn't want to not bring my breast feeding scarf since I know that a lot of our family and friends want to meet her. I don't want to have to shoo people away especially when I can feed and talk while I cover her. Everything else is for her to be comfortable with since they are her things.

Mommy's Bag : 

Again, I don't know how long we will be there, I've practically packed for a week of staying in the hospital. Will I need it? Probably not, but hey I'd rather be prepared. I also hate the fact that right now Nevada is bipolar with it's weather and can't make up it's mind if we're in Spring or Winter. 

Mommy Clothing: 

1. 2 pairs of sweats 
2. 1 pair of capri yoga pants 
3. 1 pair of shorts 
4. 1 pair of parachute type yoga pants ( they're from Target and are AMAZING) 
5. 3 regular tank tops . 
6. 1 pair of flip flops 
7. 1 pair of moccasins. I can use these as shoes and slippers in the hospital. 
8. Washable nursing pads 
9. 4 Layering/ Nursing tank tops
10. 2 "Nursing Bras". I'm using Old Navy sports bras for this. 
11. 1 Belly Band. Just so that I can hold my pants up and keep everything held in after delivery. 
12. 1 tube of nursing gel
13. 3 pairs of comfy socks to sleep in. 
14. 2 robes 
15. 1 huge comfy sweater .. these are like my security blanket these days. 
16. Panties/Pads. I didn't go out and buy huge panties so I'm using the ones I don't care about- approx 6. 
17. 3 regular t-shirts 

Mommy Essentials: 

1. Make up Bag 
2. Toiletry Bag 
3. Showering essentials 
4. Trash Bags- For all of the dirty clothes/pillows/junk 
5. Clean up kit: contacts, q-tips, cotton balls and bobby pins

Daddy Bag 

Daddy's bag is pretty simple since he doesn't need much. 

Daddy Clothing: 

1. 1 pair of flip flops 
2. 1 pair of basket ball shorts 
3. 3 t-shirts
4. 3 pairs of underwear 

Oh @#$% Bag

This is for pillows (neck pillow/regular pillow) , camera, chargers and everything else I might forget. :) 

Squash Week

How far along? 32 weeks and 3 days.   8 more weeeeeekkkkks! 

Total weight gain/loss:  140.2 this week. A +0.8 lb gain from last week and an overall weight gain of 21.7. 

Maternity clothes? Same ol' pants and leggings. 

Stretch marks? Nope.  Right now I can see all of my veins and stuff ( which is weird) and they all look like stretch marks, but you can tell how much blood is flowing through me right now. I'm also having a weird reaction to something so I'm kind of breaking out on my stomach ( I'm not itching) so I'm thinking everything is a stretch mark when I know in reality it isn't. 

Sleep:  I finally took a nap and slept on time that night! YES! Score for mommy. 

Best moments this week:
-Interviewing a daycare for baby girl:) & finding her a daycare<3 I'm so excited that we found someone perfect to take care of her while we work during the day. I come from a daycare background and I was pretty uneasy about putting her in an actual daycare facility. I wanted a home daycare for her so that she would get that one on one care that she deserves and needs especially at 6 weeks. She's going to love going there I just know it. A provider that has that much passion about children is seriously something you can't look past. 
- Installing baby girl's car seat base.
-Testing out baby girl's car seat.
-Getting back positive news from my glucose test.

Miss anything?  Not waddling haha. Yes I am starting to waddle a little bit. 

Movement: This girl takes after her dad in how rowdy she is. I can't tell you how many times she's jabbed me in the ribs while I was eating, at work and sleeping. 

Food cravings: Oranges. Oranges. Oranges. I haven't really been eating that much lately since I've been forcing myself to eat 3 times a day. It sucks right now, but when I do want to eat it's always fruit. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope! .  

Gender: baby girl:) 

Labor signs: Nah! 

Symptoms: Same as usual. 

Belly button in or out? In! But I think it's slowly making itself an outie 

Wedding rings on or off? On!! 

Happy or moody most of the time:  VERY VERY HAPPY! 

Looking forward to:  Baby shower planning & having a baby :) 

Week in Pictures: Mom's Birthday!

This past week we celebrated my mom's birthday:) *Que in the Birthday singing! * 

This woman is one of the most amazing people I've ever met in my life. The strength, love and humor that pours out of this woman is contagious. I've never really had any heroes in my life, but I hope that one day I will be half the woman that she is.

We took her out to Red Robin for dinner so that we could get someone to sing "Happy Birthday" to her. The look on her face when they came over was priceless. I captured everything on video on my phone. She was shocked and a little embarrassed, but I'm glad she had a good time.

After dinner, we went back to the house where Waymon showed her a thing or two on the drums and guitar. She was trying to capture her inner rock star while playing and I think she did a pretty good job. Don't you think? Now if only she would actually learn how to play :)

A day in our house is never dull and always so full of love. It was an incredible week.