What no one tells you... (part 3)

Part One here, Part Two here. Again, this post is for the ladies only! 

It's been almost ten months since I was pregnant and delivered my little lady, but there are still post-partum things that I have been surprised by. (It seems like the "after effects" are spread out over the first year or two of your kid's life?)

Hair Loss and "Baby" Bangs

Pregnancy finally gave me luscious, seemingly thick hair and it was amazing. I didn't start the shedding process until Brighton was about 6 months old - at first it was just more hair in the shower and in my brush, but then I noticed it on everything and started to panic.

And then it got worse.  One night as I was pulling my hair into a top knot, I noticed that around my entire hairline, there were tiny 1/2 inch hairs growing in and I had bald spots around my temples. Bald spots!!!! My self esteem took a little nose dive that night. Of course, I have made it worse by fretting about it constantly, pointing it out to friends and attempting to dye said baby bangs to match my blonde highlights. Now I have orangish-blonde baby hairs around face. Awesome. I need to call my hairdresser.

Peeing when you sneeze

Need I say more? Invest in some panty liners ladies! Do your kegels! 

Night Sweats

I had this for a week after Brighton was born, but thankfully my nurse warned me about them (and told me the cause was my body trying to shed the extra fluid due to pregnancy. Is that actually true?) But as I have started to wean Brighton from nursing 6 times a day down to 1, my hormones are leveling out again and one side effect is night sweats.

I have woken up almost every other night for the last few weeks totally drenched. We change our sheets a lot around here. Lots of extra showers too. Ugh.

Aunt Flo

My first post pregnancy period was awful - heavy, tons of cramps, felt like a psycho. The second one was twice as bad. On the flip side, at least I didn't have o buy tampons for almost 17 months!

Alright ladies, what other post-partum horror stories do you have to share? I know I am not alone in these!! Happy Friday!

What no one tells you... (part 2)

Since this post was so much fun (seriously all your stories were awesome!), I wanted to do another "What no one tells you" but in relation to labor and post-partum recovery. Again, this is for the ladies only!

I read all those labor books and heard all the horror stories (and the good stories too), but these are the things that I wish someone had told me ahead of time!

Contractions

They are NOT like painful menstrual cramps - they are a thousand times worse. I felt like my uterus was being ripped in half. My body would do involuntary things like twist into contortionist like positions and make me shake like I was freezing to death.

Side Bar: I have never cussed so much in my life as I did when I was contracting in the L&D room as I was changing into my hospital gown. I had to apologize to the nurses multiple times for my sailor mouth. 

Pushing

 Even though they reduced my epidural so I could feel the pressure of my contractions and have control of my legs, pushing was extremely difficult for me to figure out. My nurse and midwife kept telling me to push from my bottom, but I couldn't really feel my bottom (um, hello?! I had an epidural so I wouldn't have to feel it)! Needless to say, the first 15-20 minutes of pushing was really frustrating and unproductive.

Post-Labor Uterus "Massage"

I had no clue what my L&D nurse was doing to my lady bits after they laid Brighton on my chest - I was too distracted by my cute kid. But once the epidural wore off, I paid attention! I swear she was pushing as hard as she could on my uterus to "put it back in place". It hurt so bad, I had to ask for her to stop for a moment (she "massaged" it so hard at one point I was convinced she had bruised me). The other nurses also "massaged" my uterus throughout the first 24 hours and it hurt every single time.

Sitz Bath

More like yuck bath. Sitting in a warm bowl of water mixed with your own blood that is coming out of you? Um, no thank you.

Hemorrhoids

I can't even... 

...let's just say Tucks Pads are my new best friend.

Post-Labor Bleeding

It can last up to 6 weeks and you have to wear enormous, thick pads. I don't think I have worn a pad since 7th grade. And that darn spray bottle they make you use - it's like a cheap man's bidet. Ick.

Baby Anxiety

I didn't have the baby blues, I had anxiety. Every night around 10pm during the first week home, I'd start to panic. At first it was related to nursing and an incident that happened early on (I'll tell that story another day), but then it became more about having to do the whole diaper/nurse/rock to sleep every 3 hours in the middle of the night by myself gig. Fortunately, it ended pretty quickly. Also, Matt does help in the middle of the night when I need him, but because he is working I let him sleep most of the time.

Ok dear readers, what do you wish someone told you about labor/post-labor recovery? Happy Weekend!

Breaking the "Rules"

Alright my readers and friends... I'm about to admit a bunch of stuff to you about my time as a pregnant woman.

I broke a few of the "pregnancy rules" during my 41 weeks.  I did everything in my power to keep my daughter safe and healthy, but when it came to all those silly myths and old wives tales, I threw caution to the wind. Here are the "rules" I broke: 

• I ate sushi 4 times during pregnancy - ahi tuna and yellow fin only.
• After 20 weeks, I had a 3 oz glass of wine every once in a while - midwife approved!
• I forgot to take my pre-natal vitamins sometimes. 
• I consumed caffeine - either coffee or Coke - limiting it to one drink a day.
• I sometimes slept on my back and right side.
• I had my hair highlighted every 4 months. 
• I stood in front of the microwave while I heated up food. 
• I didn't read the pregnancy books everyone gave me. 
• I painted my master bedroom (it was low VOC paint). 
• I got in a hot tub for 10 minutes once.

And guess what? Brighton turned out PERFECT! No complications, no health issues, nothing. I am fine too! Isn't it interesting that we get our panties in a wad over these crazy things? It's all about moderation and balance. 

P.S. Here are the things I did "right": I ensured that the extra calories I was supposed to consume daily were healthy and I drank a lot of water. I had a protein shake daily which was enriched with vitamins and minerals (same stuff as my pre-natal vitamins).  I read a bunch of child rearing books to prepare me for parenthood.  I stretched daily, went to the chiropractor to ensure I was ready for labor and lifted small weights to keep my muscle strength up.

What no one tells you...

Gentlemen, this post is not for you so please have the courtesy to skip this one. 

So I read that "Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy" book, and parts of "What to Expect" but none of them gave you the skinny on the little physical details that can make your pregnancy either hysterical, or make you hysterically cry. 

Here is what I wish people told me:

Belly Button Pain

My belly button (or at least the top of it) popped out right around the beginning of the 3rd trimester. The rest of it took some time to pop out, but when it did - holy sheet! - it was so painful and tender. It felt like someone had a string attached to that section of my skin and was yanking on it daily. I would sit at work and push my hand against it to get relief, or wear my Bella Band doubled over for support. One time this woman I sort of know poked my belly button in jest and I almost got up punched her in the face. That is how bad it hurt. 

Leaking

I know milk production starts in pregnancy, but I had no idea that you could leak - like REALLY leak - ahead of time. I was holding my cat like a baby (cradled in my arms), cooing at him and he was purring and it was a sweet crazy cat lady moment. Once he had enough of me and I put him down, I realized my shirt was wet. Ick.

Peeing on your Hand

Once you get to that phase of "I can't see my toes" it also means "I can't see anything from the waist down". Every time I went for a pre-natal appointment, I had to pee in a cup. Do you know how impossible that is if you cannot see over or around your belly?!? It means you likely pee on your hand and the cup every flipping time. GROSS!

Skin Tags
The first time I noticed one of these I thought it was a new mole. (I have to do a semi annual check of the moles and freckles on my body - my mother has skin cancer, and I've had a lot of spots removed that were pre -cancerous). But of course it's not a mole - it's a freaking nasty skin tag. Needless to say, I'll be making an appointment for the dermatologist asap!


Ligament Pain

I never got round ligament pain. Instead I had the ligament pain right under my breasts - like my belly was pulling down so hard I had to sometimes hold up it up to feel better. 

Discharge

This makes me want to scream. I had to wear a panty liner every day and sometimes change into a new one halfway through the day. I know your body produces more mucus in pregnancy, but this was ridiculous. 

Sweating

Maybe it was because I was pregnant during the spring and summer in the humid south, but I felt like I was always, always hot. And towards the end of pregnancy, the place I always was hottest was right underneath my chest where my breasts rested on my belly and right underneath my belly when I was sitting down - so my bra was always wet. Awesomely nasty.

Leg and Back Pain

This might just be me, but every morning my back and my legs were so tight and cramped up. I had to stretch for 20 minutes or more to receive relief and I still felt sore and tense throughout the day. 

Gas

This might make you laugh, but I have never gone to the bathroom in front of Matt. Ever. And I've tried to never fart in front of him either - I have a few times by accident and it makes me so embarrassed. Well all that went out the window when I got pregnant. I never knew how much extra air you end up with - and it has to come out some way. I had so many little "poots" of air during pregnancy and it was mortifying.

Knee Fat and Cellulite

I gained the standard amount of weight during pregnancy (25 lbs), but going into my second trimester I noticed I had an extra layer of fat around my knee. It even had cellulite in it! I also had a ton more cellulite on the front of my thighs. (Sigh.)

Ok ladies, what physical weirdness did you experience during pregnancy that no one warned you about? I need to know I'm not alone here! ;) 

Happy Weekend!

A Pregnancy in Pictures

What an adventure! Taking a photo every week from the first trimester (at week 11) to the very end was so much fun. Here are all the photos from beginning to end. 

Technically I only went 40 weeks and 6 days ;)

41 Weeks of joy! My pregnancy was wonderful, even with the first trimester sickness and the last month of achy hips and insomnia.  We have received the most precious gift and we are so blessed and thankful.

For all weekly pregnancy updates, click here.

41 Weeks

 I've omitted the regular weekly "survey" since nothing has changed since last week. 

I knew I'd be pregnant for at least 41 weeks. This is my first baby, my pregnancy has been complication free (praise God!) and I have not shown any signs of going early. Being pregnant for an extra week hasn't been all kittens and roses, but the exhaustion, achy hips, random bouts of contractions and summer heat are all worth it. I love my daughter and I'll gladly "suffer" through another week of North Carolina August heat for her!

I have a doctor's appointment later today and get to see her on the big screen - I'm thankful that we get to do one more ultrasound to check fluid levels and estimate her size, as well as conduct the non-stress test. Today's appointment will determine how dilated and effaced I am (last week it was 1.5cm and 60%) and what the plan is going forward - either let me continue to progress naturally or schedule an induction. 

The journey to this pregnancy and the life of our daughter was written so differently than I would have ever imagined: We struggled with unexplained infertility for almost five years, all the while going through massive amounts of fertility tests, medical interventions and surgery for me. After hitting so many roadblocks biologically, we decided to adopt an infant through the domestic process subjecting ourselves to massive amounts of paperwork, red tape, bills, bills and more bills and the long waiting process to be chosen by a prospective birth mother. After 9 months of waiting for a match, we were chosen, but 3 months later, at the birth of her son, the birth mother changed her mind (and then Child Protective Services took the child from her). We walked through the grief of losing a baby we had grown to love and started questioning this whole parenthood journey altogether. Last fall was the hardest thing I have ever faced in my life - the grief of our dream of parenthood crushed and broken and the grief of knowing the child we loved would never know us as parents.

However, a month after the adoption failed, we started the adoption process again, but also went back to a reproductive endocrinologist. They did one round of IUI in early November and against all odds, it worked on the very first try. 

At the time and even at times now, my faith was so weak because after all that we had gone through with infertility and a failed adoption, I honestly felt like God had forgotten us.  I was convinced that He was not the embodiment of love and grace and all the things the Bible teaches us and that we would never become parents. I'll never forget the feeling of seeing those two pink lines on the pregnancy test in early December - after so many years of things not working out for us, to see a positive pregnancy test nearly bowled me over. It took me months to believe it. 

I'm still questioning why our story has been written this way and I don't think I'll ever hear the answers on this side of life. What I do know is that my daughter brought me back to God because she helped in the process of restoring my faith. This journey has given me a perspective that I don't think I would have ever achieved without the uphill battle we fought through to get to her life: I am thankful and I am blessed. I am in awe of the miracle of life inside of me and I hope to never take a second of her life for granted.

Darling daughter of mine, your story has already been written with such beauty, hope and joy. I cannot wait to meet you and tell you all about it. I love you to pieces.

Photo Shoot

Matt and I had the privilege of having some professional photos taken during the last few weeks of my pregnancy. Pranee from Beauty For Ashes Photography took these amazing photos (seriously she made us look good; it was like 100 degrees that evening and my makeup was melting off).

She was fantastic to work with and will also be doing a newborn shoot once our daughter is born! Enjoy and be sure to check out her amazing portfolio here.

Also TODAY is my due date! No signs of labor yet, but hopefully Brighton will make her appearance sometime in the next week.  Happy Wednesday!

40 Weeks

Please excuse the puffy face. I just woke up from a long nap before we took these.

 How far along: 40 Weeks

 

Baby's size: 7 pounds and 20 inches long (according to Baby Center). I'm going to try to get a more accurate estimate from my nurse-midwife today.

 

Sleep: For the last few nights I have slept really, really hard. So much so, I wake up with sheet marks on my face and arms!

 

Maternity Clothes: Yes plus all my stretchy skirts and long tank tops. I am really looking forward to getting back into my regular clothes and hopefully wearing some of my sundresses before fall begins.

 

Food cravings: Same as usual - anything cold like ice cream, frozen yogurt, Slurpee's etc.

 

Food aversions: None.

 

Symptoms I have: Hot and sweaty still, a little waddling at the end of the day, achy hips and a couple contractions here and there (nothing consistent and they are pretty mild). 

 

Doctor’s Appointment: This morning!

 

Movement: Yes, but I think she is running out of space now. Her movements feel a little more dramatic.

 

Belly Button: Out!

 

Gender: Girl!

 

What I’m looking forward to: Meeting my daughter either this week or next week (hopefully I'm not 2 weeks late!)

 

What I miss: This week I don't miss anything. I am just enjoying these last moments before motherhood begins.

Meet the Parents

Dear Brighton,

You are almost here and we can't wait to meet you! I can't wait to smell your sweet baby scent, kiss those cheeks of yours, look into your eyes and feel the warmth of you in my arms. I know how much I love you now, and I know that love will be exponentially larger once you are officially in the world.

Your daddy and I think about who you will be all the time - what your personality will be like, your disposition, the woman you'll become. We know you'll be your own person, but we also know that our influence on you will be great and there will be pieces of you that are pieces of us, whether genetically or because we have been entrusted to raise you.

Since we have such great influence over you (and believe me we are taking that very seriously), I wanted to take a moment and "introduce" your parents to you. I want you to know who we are now, even though you won't read this until you're much, much older.

Let's start first with your daddy. 

Your daddy is a hard worker, is very intelligent and highly ambitious. He has a lot of ideas and is always thinking about how to make our lives better. He can build almost anything with wood and can fix almost anything that is broken.  He is really, really good at his job, but has other gifts -  he is a creative and artistic videographer and editor. Actually anything your father tries to do seems to work. He is just so smart.

Your father is the nicest man I have ever met. He never says an unkind word about anyone. He is sensitive to the hurts of others and a great encourager. He speaks only when he has something of value to say. I love listening to his heart because God has given him a lot of wisdom about life and how the world works. He is gracious to everyone he meets and loves his friends and family very much. Anyone who really, truly knows your daddy has nothing but good things to say about him.

Lastly, your daddy has a wild streak. He has a sense of adventure and ambition that cannot be contained. He channels it into being active and athletic, but he also has wild dreams for our life. He is a wonderful husband and I know he'll be a wonderful father to you. He loves God deeply, he loves me deeply and he already loves you so much. I hope you turn out like him.

Now onto me, your mama. 

I can only describe me the way I see myself, so this will be a little skewed. 

I am a true Southern woman - I like to cook, entertain and host parties. I am an extrovert and I play hard. I love being with my close friends and family. I am loyal and protective of the people I love. I've been described as a lioness - I'll do anything for my friends and family and I'll attack if you mess with them. I don't have a high tolerance for b.s. or unnecessary drama. I want to be a person that brings light and life to others so I tend to be an encourager more often than not.

I work hard too. I'm ambitious and tend to share my opinions freely - this gets me in trouble sometimes, so I'm learning how to pick my battles and keep my mouth shut more. I love to be creative, but in a different way than your daddy - I am a writer. I have a masters in writing and I hope to start writing again outside of this blog.

I am passionate and strong-willed (your daddy calls it stubborn). I want to be the kind of Godly woman you look up to. I love Jesus and I love your daddy with everything in me. I love you too - so much it feels like my heart might burst.

Your father and I want to live life to the fullest and we want to be the best parents to you possible. We are trying to learn from others and the Lord how to best raise and rear you. We will make mistakes along the way since we're not perfect, but we hope to give you a childhood that blesses you both spiritually and emotionally. 

We hope you get the best sides of both of us, of who we are as people. Our hopes and dreams for your life are already so big and we cannot wait to see the person you'll become.

We love you so very much and can't wait to meet you. 

Love, 

Mom & Dad

39 Weeks

 How far along: 39 Weeks

 

Baby's size: 7 pounds and 20 inches long (or so)

 

Sleep:  Total crap - it's the same as last week and the week before that. I am used to not sleeping well now. 

 

Maternity Clothes: Yes plus all my stretch skirts and long tanks.

 

Food cravings: Peaches, ice cream, corn on the cob.

 

Food aversions: None.

 

Symptoms I have: Hot and sweaty still, a little waddling at the end of the day.

 

Doctor’s Appointment: Next one is August 6th.

 

Movement: Yes, but I think she is running out of space now. Her movements feel a little more dramatic.

 

Belly Button: Out!

 

Gender: Girl!

 

What I’m looking forward to: Meeting my daughter in the next week (?) or two weeks (?)

 

What I miss: Quality sleep. Not being so warm all the time. A flatter stomach.

 

38 Weeks

 How far along: 38 Weeks

 

Baby's size: 6.8 pounds and 19 1/2 inches long

 

Sleep: Awful! I wake up feeling like I ran a marathon - my hips, legs, back and shoulders are all sore. And I wake up every 3 hours to pee.

 

Maternity Clothes: Yes, yes, yes.

 

Food cravings: Anything cold.

 

Food aversions: None.

 

Symptoms I have: Hot and sweaty (it's the Charlotte summer), I'm starting to get heartburn and my hips ache a little when I walk (waddle).

 

Doctor’s Appointment: This Friday!

 

Movement: Yes all the time, like clockwork.

 

Belly Button: Out and super tender at times.

 

Gender: Girl!

 

What I’m looking forward to: Meeting my daughter soon!!!

 

What I miss: Quality sleep. Seeing my toes. Being able to buckle my own shoes and getting up from a low seat without help.

Hospital Bag

Alright friends and readers, I need your advice: What do I bring to the hospital for labor/delivery?

So far I have packed the following:

For Brighton - a few onesies, two hats, some baby socks, 2 soft swaddling blankets.

For Me - toiletries, flip flops (for the shower/bathroom), bathrobe, nursing bra and nursing tank, those washable nursing pads, 2 pair of underwear I can throw out if needed, big pads, a comfortable outfit to wear home, a tank and t-shirt to wear post delivery once I get to change out of my gown, insurance card, email list for the announcement, chapstick and nipple cream.

For Matt - change of clothes, toiletries for him, our camera, our laptop.

Is there anything I am missing? Anything I said I was bringing that I should leave at home?

Thanks for your advice!!

37 Weeks

 How far along: 37 Weeks

 

Baby's size: 6 and 1/3 pounds and 19 inches long. She is officially full-term!

 

Sleep: Some days it's great, some days it's awful. It doesn't really bother me anymore since the lack of sleep is just preparing for me for life as a parent.

 

Maternity Clothes: Yes, yes, yes.

 

Food cravings: Corn on the cob, ice cream, fruit, and freezing cold water.

 

Food aversions: None.

 

Symptoms I have: Hot, tired, chubby. I've only gained 21 pounds so far, but I feel bloated.

 

Doctor’s Appointment: We are now on the weekly schedule, so this Friday! My appointment last week was the Strep test and she checked to see if I was dilated at all - not ever half a centimeter! Oh well.

 

Movement: Yes, and it's starting to get a little painful. She is a powerful kicker and there isn't much room left in my torso for her to grow.

 

Belly Button: Out and super tender at times.

 

Gender: Girl!

 

What I’m looking forward to: Meeting my daughter soon.

 

What I miss: Feeling cooler - pregnancy really overheats you and this North Carolina summer is brutal!

36 Weeks

 How far along: 36 Weeks

Baby's size: Almost 6 pounds and more than 18 1/2 inches long!

Sleep: Over the last week I have woken up multiple times at 4am and not been able to go back to sleep. It has led me to folding baby clothes, organizing and working earlier in the day.

Maternity Clothes: Yes - same as last week. I can wear empire waist maxi dresses that aren't maternity and some longer tank tops, but all my work clothes are maternity. 

Food cravings: Corn on the cob, ice cream, fruit, and freezing cold water.

Food aversions: None.

Symptoms I have: Tired, hot, and I have this weird pain under my chest - I think it's the ligaments stretching, but it's so uncomfortable. Also, my belly button is 100% an outie and it hurts.

Doctor’s Appointment: This Friday!

Movement: Yes, my little ballerina likes to stretch her legs multiple times a day.

Belly Button: Totally out now. It is extremely tender.

Gender: Girl!

What I’m looking forward to: Meeting my daughter soon.

What I miss: This is the last few weeks of just me and Matt and I am going to soak in every second of it. I already miss the heck out of it just being us, but I am going to stay positive and enjoy this last sweet season of us.

Dude, really? Part 2

So if you haven't already - please read part 1. 

The crazies are out in droves! Here are some of the insane conversations I have had over the last few months since my belly has "popped". (I am not exaggerating or making any of this up. This is what really happened/was said).

Scene 1

At work, involving two middle aged women on my floor who power walk at lunch (they wear their clunky white sneakers with their business casual outfits). They are waiting in the elevator bank to go downstairs and I walk up to wait for the elevator with them.

Woman 1 - Looking at my belly. "Oh! How far along are you?"

Me - "I'm due August 8, so I have a little over 2 months to go."

Woman 1 - Smiles and starts to say "Congratulations" but is cut off by Woman 2 who says with a shocked look on her face, "You are way too big to be due in August! Are you sure there's only one in there?"

Me - I stand there stunned for a second then this slips out of my mouth, "Yes there is only one. That REALLY hurt my feelings."

Woman 1 and 2 react to my statement with open mouths, then just stand there, awkwardly looking at the elevator doors and each other. We all get into the elevator and ride to the lobby in total silence! (You would think Woman 2 would have said sorry, but she didn't say a word.)

As the elevator doors open, Woman 1 sheepishly smiles at me and says, "Well, good luck!"

Scene 2

At work, about to introduce an executive speaker (who I know really well) at a training event and he is standing next to me, almost shoulder to shoulder, in front of the group as they get seated.

Executive - Leans over and asks quietly, "How far along are you again?"

Me - "I'm 34 weeks. So 6 weeks to go."

Executive - Looks over my shoulder and scans my backside, then scans the front of my body. "Yeah, you look good! Really fit."

Me - "Um... thanks." (And I turn bright red and die a thousand deaths.)

Scene 3

At a movie premier for my friend's film. An old friend of ours comes up and hugs me hello.

Old Friend - "Oh, you are so cute! You're all belly and your face isn't fat at all. Let me see your butt."

Me - Laughing at her comment about my face, "HA! Wait, what?"

Before I can even process what she asked, Old Friend grabs my arm and turns me so she can look at my butt and says, "Yep you don't even look pregnant from behind!" 

Me - I keep laughing (I'm so shocked) and say "Thank you". 

Scene 4

At Target, printing off my gift log (so I can see what else I need to get off my registry), when a random guy comes up to me with a cup of frozen yogurt in his hand.

Random Guy - "Looks like mama is hot. Baby needs some frozen yogurt." He then takes a bite of his yogurt.

Me - "Huh? Um, yeah. It's really hot outside." (It was 105 degrees that day). 

Random Guy - "So baby definitely needs some frozen yogurt." 

Me - Awkwardly pausing and looking at the registry screen, I nod and murmur, "Ok."

Random Guy - Still looking at me and says, "You should really get some. It's across the street. It's really good."

Me - "Yeah, I'll do that. Thanks."

Random Guy - "Bye now." And walks away. 

Scene 5

 At my family baby shower talking to two of my female family members. 

Family Member 1 - "You're breastfeeding right?"

Me - "Yeah I'm going to try it."

1 - "Good for you. But if it doesn't work out or you hate it, that's ok too. Don't beat yourself up over your decisions."

Family Member 2 - "I heard breastfeeding really hurts."

1 - "It can as you are getting used to it, but it's worth it. I say give it at least 6 weeks before you make a decision."

2 - "But I heard it like REALLY hurts. Like you can get bloody nipples or clogged ducts and you have to use cabbage leaves in your bra. And it hurts to pump too. Right? But what do I know? I don't have kids."

1 - "Um...."

Me - (long pause while trying to figure out how to get out of the conversation) "Excuse me, I need to go to the ladies room."

Ok, fellow preggos - what are your awkward stories? Leave them in the comments!

35 Weeks

This is not a filter! The light was really like this (it was 8pm and had just rained and the sun was setting).

 How far along: 35 Weeks

Baby's size: Over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds - the size of a honeydew melon!

Sleep: Not so great - it's training me for motherhood at least. 

Maternity Clothes: Yes, but I can wear empire waist maxi dresses that aren't maternity and some longer tank tops. My favorite pair of maternity shorts are getting a little snug on my belly (sob). 

Food cravings: Anything cold! Also, granola with Greek yogurt and blueberries.

Food aversions: None.

Symptoms I have: I am tired and hot. We had a heat wave in Charlotte and it was 105-107 degrees here this weekend. I honestly felt like I was melting!

Doctor’s Appointment: In 2 weeks.

Movement: Yes, a lot. She moves mostly in the morning when I wake up and when I go to bed at night.

Belly Button: The top part is an "outie" and the rest is flush with my belly. It's really tender too.

Gender: Girl!

What I’m looking forward to: The temperature in our city to go down so I can go outside again!

What I miss: Regular, non achy sleep. Feeling a little cooler. The ability to sit up from a lying down position without help.

A Celebration for Brighton!

Last weekend I was so very blessed - my dear friends Tonya and Jessica threw a baby shower in honor of Brighton! The whole shower was themed around my nursery colors - black, white, turquoise, hot pink and yellow - and numbers (5 years of trying, 2 people in love, 1 baby, 9 months).  It was such a beautiful celebration and I was overwhelmed by the generosity of my friends and family!

Here are some photos from the morning:

The beautiful handmade invites by Tonya (I had to erase some of the personal info)

Me and the lovely hosts - Jessica and Tonya

These were the party favors!

Sweet Tillie (Caitlyn's little girl)

My friend Laura made this bodysuit!

Jess got me a Cake bag by Petunia Pickle Bottom. I was so shocked that I started tearing up!

My mom bought a box full of cloth diapers for me - hence my shock!

My lovely guests

Me and my pregnant friends - Lorean (due June 28), Missy (due August 1), me, Jessica (due August 4) and Jess (due August 25)

My sister in law Faith and my mother in law Anna Carroll

Faith, Anna Carroll, me and my mom Sheri

Two of my oldest and dearest friends - Erin and Jamie (who took most of these photos, thank you!) I've known them since middle school.

Thank you Tonya and Jessica! I am so blessed!