36 Weeks and Counting

Yesterday I had my 36 week appointment. It is slowly sinking in that I have less than a month until this new chapter begins.  We still need about two weeks to get everything ready for his arrival so no rushing the situation as of yet. 

The 36 week appointment reassured us that I would not be going into labor anytime soon. Baby Roe seems to be rather content for the time being. 

We have all of our Maternity Pictures now and we are both very happy how they turned out. 

How I'm Feeling:

SLOW. LARGE. Comparable to a manatee. Prelabor cramping has begun and it takes my breath away every time. Luckily I can sense it coming and brace myself but there is no stopping it. The belly is HUGE. Typing at the computer is a challenge because I have to sit further away then I would like. I can no longer eat sitting on the couch. (Pregnancy has gotten me away from the "we have to sit at the dinner table for dinner" rule). 

Sleeping is what I look forward to the least. I can't get comfortable. Obviously I can't sleep on my belly, you aren't supposed to lay on your back, it is painful to sleep on my right side, and that just leaves my left side... I wake up about every hour to either drink water or use the restroom. The past few nights Geoff has had to set his alarm for every few hours to check weather and a few times had to leave to go run irrigation at 3am. Did I mention the cat has been sleeping inside because of the cold weather AND because we have a raccoon that has been breaking into the porch, traumatizing her, making a mess and eating her food?  Geoff is bringing home a live animal trap today.... 

How I'm Changing:

Hormones are flying and I am easily offended. Two things that I am not enjoying and neither is the husband. 

As I said the belly is growing daily. Baby Roe is still head down and sizing above average. I have stopped going to the gym but have begun walking waddling slowing. I am unable to bend over and getting up and down from the floor took my breath away. Considering the bottom bar on the scale had to be moved to the next set of 50 yesterday I am looking forward to my return to the gym. 

What I'm Eating:

Last night I had my first "Husband, I really need you to run by Publix at 8pm in your sweats to get me coconut milk ice cream and make sure you get two containers just in case you decide you want any." moment. It happened. I wasn't proud. It was amazing. 

I have been cooking a ton of food lately to stock our freezer. So far I have black bean casseroles, quinoa veggie burgers, marinara sauce and red lentil soup. Cranberry Applesauce is on the list for today. I love cooking and never complain about it but I really hate the cleaning process. Only if dishes could wash themselves. "Husband, I really need you to..." is a common phrase apparently. 

Everything Else:

I am hoping to have the nursery complete and everything ready to go by the end of next weekend. We are still waiting on the glider. A few hormone motivated emails to the company made them promise it would arrive by the 2nd week of April. I ordered it in December. So much for 6 week arrival time. I am going to do a big Target run tomorrow to stock up on toiletries, the remaining baby needs, cleaning products and snacks. Geoff's mom is going to take me to Orlando next week to do a final Ikea, Destination Maternity and  Whole Foods trip. I think I will add Baby Cakes to that list.... 

33+ Weeks

I am starting to loose count at how far along I am. I am also starting to get comments similar to "you are going to pop any day now". There is a way to make a uncomfortable pregnant lady feel good about herself.... My kind self typically responds with I still have 7 more weeks, smile and walk away. There needs to be a book that everyone must read called "What Not To Say To A Pregnant Lady...If You Value Your Life". 

I will get off my soap box. 

Finally an update picture. 

Last Friday, I had Brook Scott Photography take some maternity pictures of just me. I thought it was important to highlight my first pregnancy in our home.  I am really excited to see all of the pictures. We are actually doing a couple photo shoot tonight as well. It is crazy to me to take pictures that focus on the belly instead of trying to hide it. I love this picture. There is a baby boy in there! 

How I'm Feeling:

I am uncomfortable. I waddle. I can't pick up items off of the floor. I roll off the couch. I spend more time in the bathroom then anywhere else. I say all of this but I am loving my belly. I am grateful for how my body has handled these last trimesters. The nausea of first trimester is a distant memory. Thank goodness. 

I still feel strong. I am not working out as hard or as often as I would like but I know I haven't lost my strength. I am really hoping all of this effort helps with labor and recovery. 

I have also allowed myself to indulge in multiple pampering sessions. The soon to be Aunt April took me for a mani and pedi and I splurged in a prenatal massage. I even scheduled a second in two weeks. These sessions force me to do nothing besides relax. Something I am not good at. 

How I'm Changing:

Baby Roe is growing and the belly is growing at a rapid rate. I catch my side profile in a mirror or window and it shocks me every time. He is still head down and he reminds me of this often. My ribs are very sore from his attempts at stretching. I feel like we are going to have a very active newborn. I get woken up in the middle of the night by a kick or a push. I will poke back and it is hilarious to see him react. Geoff tried to place his head on my belly while watching TV and got kicked. Kitty and him seem to have a game they play with her purring on my belly and him pushing her away. I could watch my belly move for hours. 

I have had to invest in additional maternity clothes. Most still fit but even with this cold front are too warm. The maternity clothes business must be very profitable. The more flattering the dress the higher the price tag. Also way too many maternity clothes have horizontal stripes. Go figure.... 

What I'm Eating:

My appetite has increased but I am still getting full very quick. One hour later I am starving again. There is no longer the worry of me forgetting to eat. My current cravings have mostly consisted of roasted veggies and pasta. I have been cooking pasta at least three nights a week. At least. Also dark chocolate covered banana slices. Our grocery sells them in 100 calorie packs. They should be in 300 calorie packs. At least. 

Everything Else:

I shared a nursery update picture on my Instagram. The glider still has not arrived. Apparently it has shipped. Maybe it will arrive before Baby Roe arrives... 

We have been receiving some of the sweetest gifts in the mail. A huge thank you to everyone!  

Our Kitchen

We have finally reached a point in a room renovation that I can say we are 98% done. We both have a bad habit of getting to the 80% mark, loosing steam and not coming back to a project for months. This room has been in the works for over 2 years. It was one of the first rooms we demoed and took the biggest chunk of our budget and time. This room is the kitchen. The heart of the home. Currently my favorite room in the house. 

Here are the before pictures:

What you see is an unusable, small, dirty kitchen that was decorated with splatter painted cabinets. The layout wasn't productive and there were too many doors and walls. 

Progress:

There was a lot of demo to be done. A full wall had to come down to create an open kitchen as well as a door. The window was closed in and the door leading out to the porch was removed. This was a complete gut job. We didn't save a single thing. The old appliances were donated but everything else had to go. Including the ceiling fan.

Once the cabinets were removed, there were layers of wall paper and linoleum to peel, scrape and pry off the floors, walls and ceiling. 

Starting from a clean slate gives your design more options. We knew we would have to rewire the room and this provided the opportunity to locate the appliances, light fixtures and outlets where ever we desired. 

To stay within budget we opted for higher end appliances and semi custom cabinets from Home Depot  and open shelving that we installed ourselves. We had professionals install the tile on the floor and backsplash but the rest of the work was done ourselves. Tongue and  grove boards were chosen over drywall. A combination of pendants, can lights and under cabinet lighting were used. A granite marble combination was chosen for the countertops and Restoration Hardware hardware was chosen for the cabinets.  

The Final Product:

The two percent remaining? Filling the holes from the finishing nails and hanging a few more decorative items. 

We went from an outdated, dirty kitchen to a space that is functional and represents our design styles. We are both very happy with how it turned out.

30 Weeks

The title should read 31 weeks. I had been putting off this post because we had our 30 week appointment scheduled for Monday. 

I was really hoping to be able to share picture from that ultrasound but Baby Roe is already showing his stubborn side. We could not get him to adjust to any position that would allow for a photograph. 

The good news? He is head down! I knew all of the pressure I was feeling under my ribs HAD to be his feet. He is currently weighing in at 3 pounds 13 ounces. 

How I'm Feeling:

Boy am I tired. We made the decision for me to work part time, starting last week. We both knew I was trying to do too much and with working 50+ hours a week, co-chairing a (sold out!) 5K this Friday, trying to get the nursery ready all while trying to be a wife and take care of myself was just too much. We even hired a cleaning service that will start today. I am really looking forward to going home to a spotless house without the guilt that my husband had to clean for hours. 

 Luckily, I have been sleeping like a rock these past few weeks. Argos has also started sleeping through the night. He went through a phase that he was waking up multiple times at night whining to go outside as well as scratching and licking himself constantly. We have added a skin and coat supplement to his dinner as well as giving him a half of an avocado a few times a week. The combination of the two has nearly eliminated the problem. 

My back is starting to ache and I am assuming the belly is the reason. I am going to continue my workouts for as long as I am physically capable. I am hoping that keeping my back strong will help during labor and recovery. I also bought an exercise ball. It was suggested at our birthing class to relieve pressure in the hips and back. 

How I'm Changing:

The belly is starting to out grow a few of my maternity tops. Geoff's gym shorts are becoming a whole lot more comfortable then any that I own. I just know that my belly button wants to pop out. I have not started swelling but everyone tells me this will be the next step. 

Baby Roe is a very active baby. Whenever I am sitting or laying down and especially after I finish a sweet meal the movements begin. Sometimes they even take my breath away. I am now able to distinguish between Braxton Hicks contractions and his movements. The Braxton Hicks can be pretty intense and painful so I can only imagine how actual contractors are going to be. 

What I'm Eating:

I have been working really hard to improve my diet. Even with the crazy schedule I have been cooking healthy, hearty meals almost nightly. The garden has had an abundance of produce that I am trying to eat before it all goes bad. 

I am hungry often and when the hunger strikes it is fierce but luckily it does not require a large portion to fill me up. 

Everything Else:

Birthing classes went very well. We both learned a ton. I think it Geoff attempts half of the relaxation techniques he will be injured. He has been warned. 

We have our baby CPR class next week.

Geoff even booked us a mini babymoon for next month. I am so excited. Now to find a swim suit that fits for the lazy river..... 

28 Weeks

Well hello third trimester. I have anxiously been awaiting your arrival. I will have to say that I felt great for a large majority of my second trimester and had a lingering fear that my third trimester was going to be rough. I have known for months that I was going to have an extremely full plate in February. Multiple events and a long to do list are keeping me very busy. Only four days in I am grateful that February is the shortest of the months. It will all be downhill from there... 

Yesterday was my good friend Nicole's baby shower. Her due date is only a few weeks before mine and she is having a little girl. Baby girl clothes are precious. All the bows, pokadots and shades of pink you could ever imagine. We still have six weeks until our shower but I know that I won't be unwrapping any tutus. Someday.

The picture is blurry but it is so much fun to have friends that are experiencing pregnancy at the same time. 

How I'm Feeling:

Exhaustion is setting it.  I am struggling with my inability to be productive all day. I have never been able to relax during the day and am forcing myself to take ten minute breaks to put my feet up and do nothing. I have been crashing earlier and earlier each night and dreading the 5am morning wake up call. 

I am still attending boot camp a few days a week. Exercise feels good but my modifications have been increasing at each workout. I really need to buy a few maternity outfits to workout in.  I am starting to pop out. I keep threatening to workout in a sports bra so I do not have to keep pulling down my shirt. Not happening. 

How I'm Changing:

I know I am going to say this at every update from here on out but I feel HUGE. I bump into everything. My belly has turned on the oven and the blender, both on multiple occasions. It is also impossible to keep clean. Dirt, food and who knows what else is a consistent accessory to my outfit. 

I am now to a point that people do not question whether or not I am pregnant. It is obviously a big baby bump. People seem to be shocked when I say how far along I am expecting me to be larger. I feel that people have a misconception with pregnant ladies and assume that we will always look like we are 9 months pregnant. Thank goodness we don't. I thought it was hard getting off the couch now...

What I'm Eating:

I seem to be 100% back to normal when it comes to food. My sweet tooth has increased and I am guilty of reaching for sweets when I start to get tired. Comfort foods and starches are making regular appearances on our weekly menu and the olive oil bottle is decreasing at a rapid rate. 

When I get hungry I find that I need to eat quickly before my blood sugar drops. I try to keep snacks on me at all times. 

The grocery store is a very dangerous place for me. Whole Foods is the worst. I think I need everything while I am there and quickly fill the cart with "snacks". 

Everything Else:

The nursery is coming along and I promise to share pictures. 

I took the glucose test at the last appointment and will find out tomorrow what my results were. 

We take our birthing class this weekend. Its a full day... 

26 Weeks

These past two weeks have flown by. I am thrilled to report that our doctors appointment went really well health wise. Neither of us were thrilled to sit in a waiting room for nearly two hours to see a doctor for less than 10 minutes but I would rather that be the case and get a clean bill of health. The only concern the doctor had was my low blood pressure. I have always had below the average range but never showed symptoms  I still do not have any symptoms (fainting, seeing stars or light headed) but she requested that I drink a Gatorade daily. This is harder than it sounds. I can not find a flavor that does not gross me out. Too many watered down Gatorades in the volleyball days and my dislike of anything artificially flavored has proved challenging so I am looking for an alternative.  

We also took a tour of the birthing center. That made everything seem so real. We even got to see a baby that was born only a few hours prior. So tiny! 

For this weeks progress picture, Geoff surprised me with a trip to a lake north of where we live. The 80 degree weather and sunshine on our pale winter skin was the perfect stress relief. 

How I'm Feeling:

I still feel great. My energy level is still high and I am still able to go to bootcamp a few days a week. I am using lighter weights then before I was pregnant and having to modify a few exercises to prevent injury to me or the baby but I feel strong. It helps with the aches and pains that are typically associated with pregnancy as well as helps me sleep at night. 

The need to use the restroom as often as I am is exhausted. I feel that my day is planned around going to the restroom. If I have to be in the car for longer than an hour or in a long meeting I know I will have to stop at a gas station or excuse myself from the table. Jumping Jacks are out of the question as well.

How I'm Changing:

I feel like my belly is HUGE and doesn't stop growing. I have been attempting to schedule maternity pictures and they suggest waiting at least another month so that you can see the belly but there is no missing it. I bump into everything and need to avoid light colored tops. Somehow  there is always a line of some sort across my belly. 

My emotions are starting to come on strong as well. I have to be very careful about what I watch on TV or read about. I saw a homeless man with a dog and instantly went inside the gas station and bough a few cans of dog food for his companion and snacks for him. When I handed it to him he nearly cried which instantly got me started. 

What I'm Eating:

I feel all I do is eat. My portions are smaller than I am used to because I fill up very fast but I am hungry again two hours later. I carry snacks with me at all times because when I get hungry, I get grumpy and can't focus. 

Have you seen the Target commercial where the lady is ripping open a variety of foods and vitamins. I feel like that is me. "What baby wants, baby gets" That commercial terrifies my husband. 

Everything Else:

I still need to share our nursery progress. I am so happy with the progress thus far and plan on working on it this weekend. 

I worked on our baby registries as well. Baby's need so much and there is so much to learn and research. I am loving the advice from our family and friends. 

Did you know there is a product called MilkScreen? Google it. It made me feel so much better about the fact that I know I will need a glass of wine upon occasion. 

We officially picked a name. We have decided to keep it a secrete for now. I am terrified I am going to let it slip.... 

holiday festivities

The holiday season flew by this year. We stayed in Florida due to the fear of cold weather which puts Geoff on call 24-7. It was a good thing he stayed. There were a few nights of the alarm going off every two hours. He is a trooper and I almost felt guilty for taking over the whole bed every time he left. 

The first item on the list was Geoff's 26th birthday. Having a December birthday is rough and I try to make it a big deal for him. 

I kept it simple and went with his yearly request of Mexican food and his family over for dinner. His parents, sister, cousin Eric and Eric's girlfriend Nicole joined us. A few months prior to his birthday, when I was taking my cake decorating class, he informed me that he didn't want a birthday cake. He may have been having nightmares of the disaster I made in the kitchen weekly... I then found a frittata "cake" recipe that I decided to make for dinner.

Of course a week before his birthday, Geoff decided he wanted a birthday cake and not only a normal, basic birthday cake but a "White Willard". Geoff's grandfather, Willard, was a fan of a layered white cake with 7 minute frosting and coconut. Luckily Geoff's sister asked a hostesses favorite question "what can I bring?". I quickly responded with his request that she was very familiar with. Good thing because we had to throw away the cake pans after this dish. Old nonstick cake pans with egg is not a good combination apparently. 

Geoff and Baby Roe got some great gifts and we are all very appreciative. 

The next event on our list was the Roe Family Eve of Christmas Eve celebration. We all gathered at Geoff's grandparents old home that is currently owned by his aunt and uncle and enjoyed great food, cocktails and family time.

The cocktail of choice yearly is the beloved Old Fashioned. The Roe family will not turn down a good bourbon or the dropping in of carolers. 

One of my favorite family traditions is attending Christmas Eve service at church. I always love the service and seeing all of the kids so excited to celebrate Christmas. I can't wait until we have our own children run up to the front of the church to hear the story of the birth of Jesus. The running part may be an exaggeration because Geoff and I were not that child. I know I preferred hiding in the pews. 

Church was followed by a lovely dinner at our downtown Italian restaurant with Geoff's parents. It was delicious and required no prep work or cleaning. It was so nice to just enjoy the evening. 

We celebrated Christmas morning at home. Just us and our fury children. I made breakfast and we opened gifts from my family and each other. 

Argos was not left out either. 

He was obviously very excited about his gift but it was then time for bed. He knew he had a long night ahead. 

Traditionally we celebrate Christmas night at Geoff's parents house. His sister and her husband drive down from Atlanta in time for dinner and gifts. 

We had a great holiday but I did miss my family. Next year with a little one at our house, hopefully they will make the trip....

I am never ready to take down the tree... 

I can't wait until next year and we have 7 month old to celebrate with. 

Best wishes in 2013!