Week 40

Where: International Fountain, Seattle Center, Seattle, WA

Week Recap ~

Our baby girl showed up at 40 weeks and 5 days :) This post was started, but never finished since we went to the hospital before week 40 was completed. Since SO much has happened in the last week and a half a lot of this might just say I can't remember. hehe

• Total weight gain/loss : +41 lbs (my final total)
• Sleep : I can't remember :) 
• Best moments : Harper showed up! Also, my mom, dad and mama were in town and we got to spend a lot of quality time together while waiting for Harper's arrival
• Movement : Does coming out count? haha
• Symptoms : Uncomfortable! I was definitely ready for her to show up. It was getting hard to be comfortable in any position - sitting, standing, laying
• Maternity clothes? : Yes, but really only yoga pants or regular pj pants. 
• Food cravings or aversion's? : I've been craving chicken salad lately, but I didn't want to make it and everywhere I looked places had nuts and grapes in theirs. I HATE nuts and grapes in my chicken salad. My mom made me chicken salad this week though and it is amazing :)
• What I am eating : My mom made some delicious meals for us while she was in town. I think she cooked every day she was over, even when she wasn't making dinner she was preparing something for me. It was so great. Having someone cook for you is always great, but even better when it is your mom. We used the grill a lot to keep the house cool.
  
  
  After our doctor's appointment on Tuesday I was feeling discouraged about when she might show up. My OB had given us this eggplant parmesan recipe, with a fun back story of people eat it and go into labor within 48 hours. She had even experienced this, but as an OB isn't claiming that it actually works she just thinks its a fun story. Regardless we went immediately from my appointment to the grocery store. Both Stephen and I were ready for me to not be pregnant anymore. 
  
  
  Stephen prepared the whole thing himself! Even the sauce was made from scratch. 
  
  He worked incredibly hard on it. It was a very labor intensive meal and took him well over 2 hours from start to finish. 
  
  The result...it was so so so good! And 48 hours later I went into labor! Coincidence? Maybe, but something got this labor moving :)
  
  
  
• Exercise : Getting walks in when I can. I don't get too far these days :)
• Gender : Girl! 
• Labor signs : 2cm now! Some more contractions, but nothing large or consistent (this was from our Tuesday doctors appointment) Obviously this changed :)
• What I miss : I can't remember :)
• What I am looking forward to : It was meeting our daughter. The days were getting closer and closer. We even had an ultrasound scheduled to check her out and start discussing what a plan for the following week would be if she didn't arrive. Most likely we would have been induced the following Tuesday. I was very anti induction so I was getting nervous that we were having to start talking about it. I was very glad she decided to come on her own!

Week 38

Where: Woodland Park Rose Garden, Phinney Ridge, Seattle, WA



Week Recap ~

• Total weight gain/loss : I forgot to get on the scale this morning, but at the doctor's scale on Wednesday I would be at +40lbs. This could be more or less than what I am today, since it is a different scale and I go to the doctor late in the day, but more than likely it is right on track and I am just making excuses for hitting 40 lbs. hehe :)
• Sleep : Not too bad again this week. Only a night or two where I woke up and couldn't go right back to sleep.
• Best moments : Her nursery is complete! It is just awaiting one piece of mail containing her crib skirt and curtains. I love it. It is an awesome space. Pictures to come soon I hope. Big thanks to my helper Ellen getting me to finish it last weekend. Stephen tried to help me, but I refused to let him.
• Movement : Same as always, moving but she doesn't have a lot of room at this point.
• Symptoms : Huge. I have been getting very tired lately. I have to limit myself to a few hours of activity at a time then rest. :)
• Maternity clothes? : Yup
• Food cravings or aversion's? : Pie and pastries. I've had a ton this week!
• What I am eating : See above. haha Also, Stephen grilled a few nights - chicken, steak and veggies. We also had pizza and Thai for dinners.
• Exercise : Not very much this week. It was really rainy here, like hard mid-west rain. It was an odd weather week.
• Gender : Girl
• Labor signs : Nothing new. Was at the same place as last week at the doctor on Wednesday.
• What I miss : Probably this week having a meal and not burping some of it up hours later. Gross haha. I try to eat smaller, but it is really hard cause I am still hungry for more.
• What I am looking forward to : Nice weather! Although Monday is forecasted to be 90! I might need to go work from the mall or somewhere with AC all day. This weekend I hope that we get out on some water at least one day.
  
  
  
  
  More photos from our trip to the rose garden.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Week 37

Where: Kings Hardware, Ballard, Seattle WA (We are getting really bad about taking pictures each week. I would have loved for a better picture, but this is the only one we took while out playing skeeball. Also, I look huge!)



Week Recap ~

• Total weight gain/loss : +38.5 lbs (big jump from last week! thinking at this point under 40lbs isn't going to happen)
• Sleep : Much better this week! I have been sleeping really hard. It has been great.
• Best moments : Getting a whole lot accomplished for her arrival. It is also great to get to hear her heartbeat every week now and get confirmation that she is doing alright and on her way.
• Movement : She's in there. She is also moving down I can tell.
• Symptoms : Tired, achy, swollen feet. Also, had a pretty bad weekend of pain. She had moved into a strange spot that caused me a whole lot of pain every time I sat down, stood up, bent over or sometimes walked. Luckily it has eased up and is now only happening every once in a while. I was not sure I was going to make it another few weeks if it had not stopped!
• Maternity clothes? : Not sure how I would fit in anything else these days. I still wear normal t shirts around the house and pj pants but my stomach is always hanging out :)
• Food cravings or aversion's? : Nothing really.
• What I am eating : Out a lot. Not into cooking this week.
• Exercise : Got in a few walks this week.
• Gender : Better still be a girl with all the pink in her closet.
• Labor signs : 1 cm dilated and 80% effaced! Not that it means she is on her way soon, but there is progression happening!
• What I miss : Things are starting to get hard to do on my own. Stephen is constantly having to help me up from the couch or pick things up that I have dropped on the floor and I am dropping things all the time.
• What I am looking forward to : Finding out if there is any more progression at the doctor next week. Also, just the weekend in general. We get a lot accomplished for her arrival every weekend, but still manage to fit in some fun for just us.

Other Happenings:

 

We got a lot of to do list items done this week.

- Our room was cleaned up and space was made for the bassinet.

- Car seat is installed, this weekend it will get checked by a professional "car seat lady"

- Final items from our registries were purchased

- Maternity leave paper work was submitted

- Hospital bag was packed!

 - The dogs went to the groomers and got pretty for the arrival of their sister

Chewie always looks so much younger with his hair cut. He has been really cuddly and loving since too. He really likes feeling fresh.

This time Yuri looked a little less scrawny. He must be finally putting on some pounds. He is still really tiny though.  

Week 36

Where: The Ballard Condominiums with my lovely shower hosts!



Week Recap ~

• Total weight gain/loss : +35.5 lbs
• Sleep : Meh. Not happening like I would like it too, a bad nights rest is beginning to be the norm.
• Best moments : Definitely our shower! It was great to have a laid back afternoon and celebrate our little girl. Pictures below!
• Movement : There isn't a whole lot of room in there for her to do any big movements, but she is still finding a way to move about.
• Symptoms : My skin has started to be very dry. I am lathering up in lotion every night, but no lotion seems to be good enough at this point.
• Maternity clothes? : Yes
• Food cravings or aversion's? : nothing stands out this week
• What I am eating : pasta, steak, jalapeno poppers, Mexican - lots of quesadillas lately, lamb burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, yogurt
• Exercise : Not much this week. Walked to dinner once.
• Gender : Girl still
• Labor signs : She's for sure head down!
• What I miss : Wearing my wedding rings. I haven't had my engagement ring on for a few weeks, but I had still been wearing my band. As of this Tuesday though it is no longer being worn. :(
• What I am looking forward to : Hopefully the pool this weekend :) Also, I now have all the prints I purchased for the nursery and we will be hanging them this weekend. I am excited to see how they all pull together on the wall. Fingers crossed they look good! Oh and being full term starting Saturday!
  
  
  Seattle Shower Pics:
  
  Condo ladies and great friends! Mandi, me, Aly and Shannon
  
  
  
  Items marked so I knew if I could consume them :) 
  
  
  
  Gummy bears soaked over days in vodka! Highly recommend trying this out
  
  
  
   Grill masters Brian and Eric (below)
  
  
  
  
  
  
   Opening gifts together.
  
  
  
   The guess the celebrity baby game was a big hit.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I just really loved this picture of us :)
  
  
  Thanks so much to Mandi and Aly for putting on a great shower for us! We really have found great friends here in Seattle. :)

Week 35

Where: Golden Gardens, Ballard, Seattle, WA

Week Recap ~

• Total weight gain/loss : +33.5lbs
• Sleep : Blah. Not so bad the beginning of the week, but the second half of the week has been rough. I sleep really hard for like an hour or two then I wake up for 3+ hours! I eventually do fall back asleep but not well. Time to start conditioning my body I guess.
• Best moments : Not baby related, but video chatted with my girlfriends this week. It is always so great to see them and spend time together, even if it is not technically in person. :)
• Movement : Not quite like she used to do, no spinning these days. She likes to shove her tiny butt into my ribs.
• Symptoms : hmmm, nothing new this week I think. I was fairly uncomfortable one day, but I've determined that I spent too much time on the couch working from home and I was just squishing everything together. The other days I was home I spent most of my time working from the kitchen table and I was fine.
• Maternity clothes? : Yes, mostly dresses at this point. 65 - 70 degrees is surprisingly warm when you are 8+ months pregnant
• Food cravings or aversion's? : I am back to my first trimester not really feeling like anything
• What I am eating : This question might be the worst one as time goes on. I really don't know, most of the same as the last few weeks. I can't eat a lot at a time now or I don't feel good. This doesn't mean I am not hungry enough to eat a full meal though and that can cause problems when I don't stop myself from having a normal sized meal.
• Exercise : Some walking, weather got nice again :)
• Gender : Girl
• Labor signs : None, next week the doctor starts seeing if I am having any progression!
• What I miss : Not having something pushing on my bladder! The last half of this week pressure on my bladder just came out of nowhere.
• What I am looking forward to : Baby shower on Sunday with our friends here in Seattle. It is a co-ed bbq and the weather is looking like it is going to be a great day!
  
  
  More pictures from the beach:
  
  
  
  
  
  

Week 34

Where: Din Tai Fung (dumpling restaurant), Bellevue, WA (the guys behind the window are making thousands of dumplings)

Week Recap ~

• Total weight gain/loss : +33lbs
• Sleep : Better this week than the previous week. I still wake up a ton to pee, some nights every hour!
• Best moments : Having a long weekend was really nice. Stephen, Ellen and I got some good work done in the nursery. Stephen and I got all the boxes of stuff out and put away in her room the best we could at the moment. The rug is laid out and I love it. Ellen and I sorted and put away most of her clothes. We have one more load of laundry that is washed, but just needs sorted and put away. It is coming together nicely. 
• Movement : Similar to the last few weeks. She's in there, not a big kicker but makes herself known. Mostly by being really to the right side of my stomach. 
• Symptoms : Unfortunately the swelling feet got worse this week. I had a few work days that I was in an all day meeting and did not get up as much as I normaly do to move. Needless to say after day one of this they were prety big and haven't had the chance to recover. 
• Maternity clothes? : Obviously
• Food cravings or aversion's? : Nothing stands out this week
• What I am eating : burgers, thai, stir fry, onion tart, fries, fruit, pastries, cheese sticks, salad, pasta, hummus, pretzle chips
• Exercise : :( I was bad again
• Gender : Girl
• Labor signs : None
• What I miss : I don't think I miss anything new right now, not peeing every hour, beer, my feet. haha - all the same as normal. 
• What I am looking forward to : Stephen and I are doing another cooking class this weekend, on summer grilling. We had a really good time at the last one, so we thought we would get one more in before the baby comes. Also, next week starts up weekly doctor visits. Not that it is exciting going to the doctor every week, but it means we are getting close!
  
  
  Other Happenings:
  Stephen and I hit up the Ballard farmers market for the first time since moving. It was fun to walk around and pick up some good stuff. This picture makes me look oddly tan, I am not. 
  
  
  
  The dogs tried to run to safety on me/in my arms from their dad, who was going to brush their teeth. hehe
  

Week 33

No picture this week :( We forgot, then it was so late in the week I was almost to 34 weeks.


Week Recap ~

• Total weight gain/loss : I don't really want to talk about it, but +31lbs.
• Sleep : Terrible. One night I did get a stretch of 4 hours though and that was fantastic
• Best moments : Hearing her heartbeat at the doctor this week. Always a good moment.
• Movement : She's taken to a spot right under my right boob she likes to be at an awful lot.
• Symptoms : Getting more and more tired. Maybe starting to nest some, not as much as Stephen though :)
• Maternity clothes? : Yes, but I cherish my work from home days when I can stay in pj pants and one of Stephen's old t-shirts (my current outfit)
• Food cravings or aversion's? : nothing new this week
• What I am eating : Pasta, Mexican (cooked at home), grapes, blueberries, greek yogurt, cheese, steak, corn on the cob, pizza, to name a few things
• Exercise : None, which I am sure didn't help the large weight gain this week. I am not terribly happy with the large jump in lbs. The weather was crappy all week so we didn't go walking at all. I hope it changes next week and this weekend!
• Gender : Girl
• Labor signs : None
• What I miss : Since I might have only slept an hour or two last night, a good nights sleep!
• What I am looking forward to : Working on the nursery over the long weekend. Also, having my helper to go shopping with and put clothes away. I think Stephen will be excited that I have Ellen to take shopping now and he will be asked to go less :)

Other Happenings:

Not really much, this week was rather low key. We did go Saturday and tour the birth center at the hospital we will deliver at. It is nice. Heads up family - the waiting room is VERY small :) While there we pre-registered, so that is one more thing to check off as done!

Week 32

Where: Atop the Space Needle, Seattle, WA (Olympic Mountains in the background)



Week Recap ~

1. Total weight gain/loss : +27.5 lbs (I must have jinxed myself a few weeks back saying I wanted to just go barely over 30lbs. Since then I've been gaining 2-3 lbs every week. At that rate I'll be lucky to stay under 45lbs.)
2. Sleep : Better this week than the past few. Still waking up a lot to pee, but I have been falling back asleep each time better.
3. Best moments : My sister moved to Seattle yesterday! :) I also got a good amount of baby laundry done. Diapers are finished and put away. Last night I folded some clean receiving blankets while my new helper figured out what to do with baby socks. ha. It's good to have my sister around :)
4. Movement : Yes. We also confirmed this week that she likes music with horns in it. We played her some tunes a few nights and she really got going for a few songs that are very horn centric.
5. Symptoms : Just feeling like I'm getting bigger. I even got a "my gosh your huge" at work this week. The guy was lucky I was in a good mood and thought he was funny. :)
6. Maternity clothes? : Same as always. I did pick up two dresses at Old Navy that are not maternity but will work. The one in this weeks picture is one of them.
7. Food cravings or aversion's? : Spaghetti - I just had to have it one night. It turned out great cause we found a place in our neighborhood we really like that has an extensive gluten free menu. I also realized this week that I randomly want orange Gatorade a lot of times. It is on sale this week at one store for $0.69! I'm stocked up now.
8. What I am eating : I made philly cheesesteaks from scratch, cheese sauce and all, one night. They were super good. Also, had some chicken and fingerling potatoes one night. Sliders and crepe food trucks. Ice cream. Chicken sandwiches, pizza rolls and bites for lunches. I had a few salads. Bananas, greek yogurt, granola...my usual breakfast.
9. Exercise : I didn't get in as many walks this week as the past few, but I did get out and move a little.
10. Gender : Girl. She's got more pink clothes than I prefer, guess its unavoidable though huh?
11. Labor signs : None
12. What I miss : Hmm this continues to be a hard one for me each week. I am starting to have a hard time getting comfortable on the couch and sometimes at the start of bed. So maybe doing those things with ease? I think some of it can be attributed to a long day though, then combined with getting larger it just all gets harder at the end of the day.
13. What I am looking forward to : A fun weekend with my sister! Also, we go this weekend to tour the birth center. So we will find out where we will need to park and what the room will look like where we will meet our little girl. One other non baby related thing I am looking forward to is, Monday Stephen and I are going to a Nat Geo lecture on ancient Maya. We really enjoy the few lectures we have been to and I am sure this one will be no different.
    
    
    
    
    Other Happenings:
    
    Mother's day brunch a top the Space Needle!
     
    

It wasn't a sunny day, but we still had great views. The Olympics were out and looking fantastic as always.

 

After brunch we went to see Iron Man 3 and walked around downtown a little. It was a really nice day Stephen planned.

 

Monday we finished our 6 week child & labor class. I'm pretty good at swaddling haha

 

 



I also won a contest this week from Cotton Babies (great cloth diaper store that is St Louis based). I never win anything so it was a complete surprise. Pretty excited to use my $10 gift card.

Week 31

Where: Lummi Island, Washington (Mt. Baker in the background)

Week Recap ~

• Total weight gain/loss : +25 lbs
• Sleep : Getting a little harder. My stomach has started to get uncomfortable if I don't make sure to have a pillow under it. Also, waking up a lot to go to the bathroom. When I was asleep most nights I was sleeping hard, just waking up a lot. 
• Best moments : Relaxing all weekend and being in the sun. Just spending time with Stephen & the dogs not worrying about anything/ 
• Movement : She's getting bigger, as her movements are more pronounced. She still isn't the most active one, but has her moments where she's partying in there. 
• Symptoms : Starting to have my ankles get swollen :( No kankles yet, but I am worried they are on their way. We had a few 80 degree days and that had them swelling pretty good. 
• Maternity clothes? : Yes, with the warmer weather I have been rocking mostly dresses this week. 
• Food cravings or aversion's? : Nothing in particular this week. 
• What I am eating : deer moss, wild mushrooms, salmon, rhubarb, sunflower root, sable fish, flowers, fried halibut skin with razor clams, geoduck - to name a few items from our amazing 18 course meal at the Willows :)  
• Exercise : Lots of walks. I've really been doing well with getting out and moving more. 
• Gender : Girl
• Labor signs : None
• What I miss : Not having someone jam a foot or hand into my upper stomach for hours on end, especially after I have ate a large meal. 
• What I am looking forward to : Stephen has a nice mother's day planned for me and my sister arrives to Seattle next week. Also, I have a day off work to hang out with her next Friday and who doesn't love a day off work! :)
  
  
  Other Happenings:
  We spent all weekend in Lummi Island. We did pretty much nothing but relax. We didn't even watch tv other than a few sports events. The view from the house we rented (we have a friend who's mom owns a house on the island) was amazing. We spent a lot of time looking out at this view...
  
  
  
  The dogs LOVED it. There was a nice size yard they would roam and a wonderful deck we all spent a lot of time on. We left the door open and they would just go out and sunbath for hours. 
  
  
  
  As I mentioned, we had an amazing dinner at the Willows Inn. It was walking distance from the house we stayed in too. We got there about an hour early and sat out on the nice deck having a pre-dinner drink (me some fancy fresh squeezed juice).
  
  
  I think we had the best table (the place only has 12 tables).
  
  
  
  
  On Saturday we walked the beach and saw the head chef from Willows on the beach. We talked to him and found out he was foraging seaweed for dinner that night. All the food served at their dinners is foraged from the island or fished from the waters around the island. We thought it was just so cool running into him picking items for dinner, foodies meeting a celebrity. haha
  
  
  
  I love this picture of us on the beach. We were so relaxed :)
  
  
  
  Some scenery pictures from our weekend...
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We played mini golf this Friday. I killed it on the front nine!
  
  
  
  Then I let a hard hole get in my head and Stephen killed it on the back nine.
  
  
  
  Final results....We tied! 
  
  
  
  I also went to the doctor this week, starting my every two week appointments instead of once a month. I am measuring right on track and the heartbeat sounded great!

Week 29

Where: RoozenGaarde tulip field, Skagit Valley, WA



Week Recap ~

• Total weight gain/loss : +22 lbs
• Sleep : I didn't kick the week off great. Had my first bout of insomnia on Sunday night. I know insomnia strikes a lot of pregnant women, but I have been lucky to date to not have any. It did not make for a fun Monday. Luckily Sunday was the only night I was plagued with this.
• Best moments : All of the big nursery furniture is purchased and in her room! It has been a challenge arranging it in a manor I find acceptable though. I think Stephen has moved every piece in every possible position, maybe more than once :). Here is the dresser I picked up on Monday, found on Craigslist:

I also received some AMAZING news at the end of this week, but cannot share it just yet. Stay tuned!

• Movement : Same as the last few weeks, nothing new here.
• Symptoms : Starting to nest some. Like I mentioned, I had Stephen moving everything around in her room like a crazy person. I also took all of our amazing shower gifts and sorted them for easier use of where everything is and knowing what all we have right now. Check out this girls clothes!

I was glad I sorted through all of them. I quickly figured out what sizes she needs and doesn't need more clothes of. The two large piles are 3-9 months. We would be in trouble if she came today and was tiny. I know a lot of people say they aren't in newborn or 0-3 very long but right now she'd be going naked a lot while we washed the 10 clothing items she does have from newborn - 3 months every day. We wont get her too many more clothes in this size but a few onsies and pjs should have her covered.  
• Maternity clothes? : Rocking them still. Still wearing a few non-maternity shirts, but I have also gone to put on some tshirts this week to find that they do not fit at all.
• Food cravings or aversion's? : Nothing stands out this week
• What I am eating : greek yogurt, granola, pasta, salad, fruit, fruit, fruit, made some quinoa stuffed red peppers one night, ben & jerry's frozen greek yogurt so good! I was better about veggies this week, but I still need to work on having more.
• Exercise : Got a good number of after work walks in this week. The weather has been looking up and it stays light out till after 8pm now so we have a lot of chances to take family walks. It makes the dogs very happy too!
• Gender : Girl!
• Labor signs : I think one night I felt a Braxton Hicks contraction, just one so no need to be concerned :)
• What I miss : Taking a walk in 60 degree weather and not sweating! haha. To be fair 60 is warm here, 80 is HOT. So if you live in the Midwest maybe read this as 80 degree weather makes me sweat, to give you an idea of the temp we are having here. Also, walking up inclines and not having to stop or slow down to catch my breath. I am not letting either of these things stop me from getting out and in the sun when I can!
• What I am looking forward to : Having next Friday off! We are headed to Lummi Island for the weekend. Should be relaxing.

Other Happenings:

We went to the Tulip Festival! I was so excited that we were first in line to get into the fields.

Just a few of the hundreds of photos we took:

The dogs were super cute and loving.

 Yuri watching TV on his dad.



Chewie hanging out with his sister (he stood like this for 20 mins)

We enjoyed the sunshine! Not only did we take walks, but we spent time out on the porch. We also put up a gate on the front porch and leave the door open and Chewie eats it up. He loves hanging out there.