Getting things one by one...

This might sound really dumb but I was SO excited this weekend to pick up Hailey's travel system! It's not even for ME (technically) and I literally could not WAIT to get it. I think because it's one of the major items we need before she gets here. We can't bring her home without a car seat =) the stroller will come in handy too!

Inside you might catch a glimpse of my favorite little sock monkey! She's testing out all of Hailey's new equipment before she arrives. Safety first!

Yes... she's wearing a diaper...

(Excuse the "naked" mattress... I didn't wash the sheet yet.)

I made Craig show me his diapering skills! LOL

Oh... almost forgot to mention I put it together almost all by myself! =) Luckily it came almost completely assembled and the rest was pretty easy. Craig had to help a tiny bit. I hope nothing falls off!

I realize that I look pretty scary right here! LOL It didn't stop me from posting the pic but in my defense when I was out and about yesterday a lady told me "You are the cutest prego I have ever seen". Totally made my day. So I just have to say that I started my day off looking halfway decent! LOL don't judge! I haven't hit the "let myself go" stage yet! I was tired when I got home... not to mention I was sweating my booty off!

We just have a few more items to get before Hailey comes! That makes me so happy because there was a point I felt like we would NEVER get everything done and ready in time for her arrival. It's such a huge relief.

The next big project is installing the laminate flooring in our house. Craig is hoping to get started on that this weekend. I am praying! It's going to make such a huge difference in our house. I think it will make it look bigger and definitely smell better. Dogs and carpet don't mix! Not because they aren't potty trained (they are... thank god... I couldn't deal with "accidents") but because dogs can be stinky and the smell is impossible to get out of the carpet. Not to mention the hair! Most people would just say to put the dogs outside, but they are our babies... that's not going to happen. Laminate floors = everybody wins! =)

32 Week Bump!

Please excuse the hot mess of a mop on my head and my tired eyes! LOL

Here's me at 32 weeks!

32 Weeks... just 8 to go!

The time is still flying by! Hailey's room is ready for her but we still need to buy some stuff before she gets here. Better get on that.

This is what her room looks like...

I just threw the bedding on the crib to see what everything looked like all together. It's not 100% complete... the sheet isn't even on the mattress yet but we don't have much left to do at this point. Whew!

Your pregnancy: 32 weeks

How your baby's growing:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

How your life's changing:

To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.

You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.

Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

Not to brag, but I am still feeling great! I can only hope and pray that I keep feeling this way! I don't feel like I have run out of room in my belly for Miss Hailey. I told Craig last night that I think (but hope not) she will try to stay in there longer than 40 weeks. LOL What's the rush when you are so comfortable in there? I am really hoping not to go over my due date... my fingers are crossed. I don't want her to come to early but not to late either. Is that to much to ask?

I had a doctor's appointment today. He says Hailey is measuring right on schedule. I guess that after 20 weeks the measurment from your pelvic bone to the top of your uterus coinsides with how many weeks you are. I am measuring right at about 32... 32 weeks. I told him I still think I am hiding her. I will be more than ecstatic to have an average sized baby and not an amazon 12 pounder!

I am finally getting people (strangers) asking how far along I am. People seem shocked when I tell them I am 8 months. Way better than hearing "Are you sure it's not twins?". I might have to punch someone if they said that to me!

That's all I've got for you right now!

OREGON!

Where have I been for the last week or so, you ask? We took a trip to the Oregon coast. We packed up and left last Wednesday night and came back yesterday. Talk about an amazing time. The weather was beautiful. We had a good group of family and friends! Our last camping trip before Hailey arrives.

I sat around relaxing for the most part. Craig, on the other hand, barely sat still! That man is GO GO GO! I can't tell you how many gallons of gas he went through but he rode the crap out of the RZR! We are really getting our money out of that thing! LOL I wasn't able to go on most of his rides because he is a little crazier than Miss Hailey can deal with right now (and myself!) but he did manage to get me out of the trailer for a couple rides and we were able to take some really good pictures. The scenery was absolutely amazing! I am glad I didn't miss out on that!

Here are some pics...

"Banshee Hill" This would be the hill Craig took me up to take some pics.

Like these...

Me, Dee and Brea

Then we headed to a lake in the middle of the dunes. The view was amazing!

Here are some other randoms...

Our furbabies!

"Mommy and Daddy"

There was a rollover! Thank god it wasn't me! LOL I did make sure everyone was ok before I started snapping pictures!

This was our friends Landon and Deidra's Rzr and Landon let his friend drive... bad idea =)

Us again!

Me and Dee... she loves my belly

Spenser, me and Craig

31 weeks!

Moving right along… into 31 weeks! That means only 5 more weeks of work and 9 more weeks until our baby girl's due date. Her actual arrival could be another story! We just don't know when she will bless us with her presence.


We are all done with our child birthing class. We officially know everything there is to know about birthing a child! LOL… not!

I have scheduled an infant CPR class for us to take and we will also be touring and pre-registerring at the hospital. Both of those things will be taking place in September.

I am so happy to report that Hailey's room is DONE! There are a lot of odds and ends we still need to buy but the nursery is pretty much finished, aside from a few little things like her dresser, something on the walls. Such a huge relief that if she came tomorrow (Don't get any ideas, Hailey!) we would have a bedroom that is all ready for her. WE wouldn’t quite be ready but the her room would be!

Your pregnancy: 31 weeks

How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

How your life's changing:

Have you noticed the muscles in your uterus tightening now and then? Many women feel these random contractions — called Braxton Hicks contractions — in the second half of pregnancy. Often lasting about 30 seconds, they're irregular, and at this point, they should be infrequent and painless. Frequent contractions, on the other hand — even those that don't hurt — may be a sign of preterm labor. Call your practitioner immediately if you have more than four contractions in an hour or any other signs of preterm labor: an increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge (if it becomes watery, mucus-like, or bloody — even if it's pink or just tinged with blood); abdominal pain or menstrual-like cramping; an increase in pressure in the pelvic area; or low back pain, especially if you didn't have it before.

You may have noticed some leaking of colostrum, or "premilk," from your breasts lately. If so, try tucking some nursing pads into your bra to protect your clothes. (And if not, it's certainly nothing to worry about; your breasts are making colostrum all the same, even if you don't see any.) If your current bra is too snug, you might also want to pick up a nursing bra. Choose a nursing bra at least one cup size bigger than you need now. When your milk comes in you'll be grateful for that extra room!

I am still feeling really good! A little more tired, work outs are becoming a little harder but I am sticking with them as long as I possibly can! I have come this far… why quit? =)

I think have experienced some Braxton Hicks contractions but not many and not very often.

So far I have to say that my pregnancy has been as perfect as can be and I can only hope the next 9 weeks or so continue to go as well as the first 31!

Hailey's got so much stuff!

WOW... Hailey has so much stuff already! We aren't even close to having everything we "need" and to be honest, I have no idea where we will put everything once we get it. Her room is filling up fast!

This morning I spent some time going through all of the wonderful baby shower gifts she has gotten. I hung up clothes, folded blankets, etc. I didn't start washing or really organizing anything yet because I don't want to wash things to long before she gets here so it's just sitting and collecting dust.

Check out this little girl's closet already

Everything isn't quite in "it's place YET.  I had to find a place for everything before tomorrow so that we can clean the carpet in the bedroom.

We need to clean the carpet ASAP so we can put THESE in the room...

A beautiful crib and dresser that was GIVEN to us by some friends. I am so thankful. They are beautiful and saved us a ton of money!

As soon as we have the room more put together I will post more pics! =)

30 Week Doctor Appointment

I just got done w/ my 30 week doctor appointment and I am happy to report that everything is going as well as it can! My doctor is happy with my progress… even though Craig seems to think my bump is "so small", the doctor said I am prossing normally! YAY!


He also informed me that I start seeing him every 2 weeks now instead of every 4 weeks. CRAZY! Things are really moving along. At 36 weeks I begin seeing him every week and that's when we start the dreaded "internals" but that will tell us if I am dialating and any progress from week to week. I can't believe it. It's all happening so fast! Time to really get our butts in gear and get Miss Hailey's room done! She will be here before we know it.

30 WEEKS! A day early...

I know this isn't technically any kind of milestone but 30 WEEKS?!?!?! OMG I can't believe we have hit the 30 week mark! Just 10 weeks 'til we meet HAILEY! I am sure that soon I will start getting nervous/antzy about labor and delivery but I am ok right now! I am hoping not to have a c-section, but there's really no way to prevent it if that's what I have to do. I am also keeping my fingers crossed that I don't go over my due date. I have had probably the BEST pregnancy possible so far (knock on wood!) and I hope that everything continues to go as well as it has up until now.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and I will update this post if anything interesting happens!

Your pregnancy: 30 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

How your life's changing:

You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, thanks to hormonal changes, your ligaments are more lax, so your joints are looser, which may also contribute to your balance being a bit off. Also, this relaxation of your ligaments can actually cause your feet to spread permanently, so you may have to invest in some new shoes in a bigger size.

Remember those mood swings you had earlier in pregnancy? The combination of uncomfortable symptoms and hormonal changes can result in a return of those emotional ups and downs. It's normal to worry about what your labor will be like or whether you'll be a good parent. But if you can't shake the blues or feel increasingly irritable or agitated, talk to your doctor or midwife. You may be among the 1 in 10 expectant women who battle depression during pregnancy. Also let your caregiver know if you're frequently nervous or anxious.

I am still feeling really good. A little more tired lately than before, but that's to be expected (as mentioned above). I am noticing I am a little more irritable LOL… I will blame that on hormones and fatigue.

I counted up the "working days" I have left until maternity leave. Only 28 days of work to go! I let my boss in on that little piece of info yesterday and she looked at me like a deer in the headlights and said "I have no plan!" Uh… seems like it's probably time to start thinking about that, don't you think?

I am STILL working out regularly. Some days are much harder than others, but I know that I will be so much happier if I keep it up! Plus, I am sure it's helping with my moods and energy level… to mention weight gain! I have gained 25lbs at this point. I was hoping to only gain 30 throughout the entire pregnancy. We will see how that goes but it's likely tha tI will gain a little more. I am feeling pretty good about where I am right now. My doctor told me I could gain up to 40lbs (1 lb/week). According to him, I am right on track.

29 Weeks!

Someone's getting close to being 30 weeks pregnant! That means only 11 more weeks until baby girl's arrival and only 7 more weeks of work (give or take… we will see how I feel). I am counting the days!!!! As of now the plan is to most likely work until 2 weeks before my due date, which would actually be 9 more weeks of work. I am going to see how I feel at 36 - 37 weeks and make my decision on when to go out on maternity leave at that time. There's no telling when our baby girl will actually arrive but it would be nice to have a couple weeks to myself and to prepare everything before she gets here.


I mentioned that the baby's room is pretty much ready to go! All we need to do is clean the carpet and fill that baby up. Right now its full of all of the goodies we got at the baby shower. People LOVE buying baby stuff! We got spoiled!

I didn't take pics of the room after it was all done but here is a picture of me in the room the day of my shower.

All you can see (besides me) is the paint. That's all we have done. Now it's time to stock it up!!!

I have one more little tidbit of info to share…

We had originally decided to keep the baby's name a secret until she was born but we decided to let the cat out of the bag this weekend. Our daughter's name will be...

Your pregnancy: 29 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

How your life's changing:

Your baby's very active now. Your healthcare provider may ask you to spend some time each day counting kicks and will give you specific instructions on how to do this. Let your provider know if you ever notice that your baby is becoming less active. You may need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby's condition.

Some old friends — heartburn and constipation — may take center stage now. The pregnancy hormone progesterone relaxes smooth muscle tissue throughout your body, including your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation, coupled with the crowding in your abdomen, slows digestion. Sluggish digestion can cause gas and heartburn — especially after a big meal — and contribute to constipation.

Your growing uterus may also be contributing to hemorrhoids. These swollen blood vessels in your rectal area are common during pregnancy. Fortunately, they usually clear up in the weeks after giving birth.

If they're itchy or painful, try soaking in a sitz bath or applying cold compresses medicated with witch hazel to the affected area. Avoid sitting or standing for long stretches. Talk with your provider before using any over-the-counter remedies during pregnancy, and let your provider know if you have any rectal bleeding. To prevent constipation, eat a high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water, and get some regular exercise.

Some women get something called "supine hypotensive syndrome" during pregnancy. This happens when lying flat on your back causes a change in heart rate and blood pressure that makes you feel dizzy until you change position. You might notice that you feel lightheaded if you stand up too quickly, too. To avoid "the spins," lie on your side rather than your back, and move slowly as you go from lying down to sitting and then standing.

Hailey is definitely growing! I can tell a big difference in where I am able to feel her moving in my belly. Crazy how fast they develop. I was reading a blog today where a woman gave birth to twins via emergency c-section at 28 weeks. She had pictures up on her blog of the babies. They were quite skinny but definitely all BABY. It's so hard to imagine a little person in there but they are almost fully developed at this time. Well, with the exception of some maturing of their organs and the piling on of some baby fat.

I am more than happy to report that I am not feeling any of the symptoms mentioned above! Knock on some wood that I don't get any of those horrible sounding things! LOL

The only thing I can say I do get is shortness of breath or light headed when I get up to fast or go upstairs at work. That's very different for me. It's a good thing I have been keeping up on my work outs. I can't imagine that being worse.

BaBy ShOwEr!!!!!!!!!

Finally the weekend of my baby shower arrived!

Our baby is so blessed to have so many friends and family who love her so much already!

The shower was amazing!!!! Words can't even describe how grateful I am for everyone who was there and the reason we were all together!

There was the BEST food... the best friends... the best family... what more could I want?

Our lucky baby girl got spoiled like crazy. She got so many outfits, toys and other goodies. I can't wait to fill her room up and get it ready for her! She will be here in less than 12 weeks! (We hope! LOL I am not down w/ that over-due stuff!)