Week 38 Bumpdate

How far along: 38 weeks! It can happen anytime now, which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. I'm getting a little nervous about labor.

Baby size: 19-22 inches, 6.5 lbs

Maternity clothes: Options are getting limited as I get bigger/it gets chilly.  I feel like I am wearing the same things all the time and constantly doing laundry.

Sleep: I am updating this blog at 3:00 am… so not sleeping well. 

Stretch marks: None

Gender: Boy

Movement: It's less kick-like movements now and more like the baby is stretching out when he moves. I like to poke his little feet when I feel them pressing against my side. I wonder what he thinks about that!

Best moment this week: It was kind of a boring week around here… I guess winning a little money at bunco for being the biggest loser was the highlight of my week.

Looking forward to: 13 weeks of maternity leave to spend with my baby… Only 10 days left of work before my leave begins (less if I have the baby before my due date). Also, my sister and her family are coming to visit for a few weeks while I am on leave! It's going to be a very exciting fall.

Food cravings: Not really anything this week.

Anything making you sick: Feeling nauseous a lot… not sure if anything in particular is causing it.

Labor signs: Not really any signs… I have a feeling I have a while left.

What I miss: Being able to sleep through the night. I guess I better get used to no sleep though… I'm sure a newborn isn't going to help the situation.

Nursery: Still ready and waiting.

Belly button in or out: Outtie

Wedding rings on or off: On

Mood: I hate not knowing how much time I have left, how my labor will go etc. I'm a planner… but this is something that can't really be planned and it drives me crazy. 

What's going on with baby: Baby should be shedding the white substance covering his skin called vernix caseosa and packing on some weight. He's pretty much completely cooked and ready to be born!

Until next time…

Tressa

Baby Mayk's Work Shower

Last week my co-workers threw a beautiful shower for Pumpkin. It was so nice for so many of my co-workers to take time out of their day and shower Pumpkin with generous gifts! Here are some pictures from the shower:

The Decor/Food:

The shower guests playing baby shower word scramble: 

Me in my chair… in the same dress I wore to all my other showers and every other occasion I needed to look nice for while pregnant. I can't wait to have more options!

Some pictures of opening gifts:

Sweet little bear hat.

Pumpkin got several books.

Jason (one of the hosts) walking a gift basket around for people to admire.

Cute pumpkin sleeper for Pumpkin to wear in just a few short weeks!!!!

Cute smocked owl overalls.

Jason (one of the hosts) played the part of Rich. He was very entertaining! 

Superseat…. looks like a lot of fun!

Cool sunglasses

Bodysuits that some of my coworkers had made that say "Mayk My Day."

 Until next time…
Tressa

Week 37 Bumpdate

How far along: 37 weeks! Less than 3 weeks to go! Sorry for the repeat outfit, but I ran out of maternity clothes that I haven't worn in previous weekly photos.

Baby size: 19-22 in / 6.5 lbs (although the doctor estimated at my last appointment that Pumpkin is 5.5 - 6 pounds right now)

Maternity clothes: Hopefully this baby comes before it gets too chilly. I don't have a lot of cold weather maternity clothes and I don't plan on buying any for this pregnancy!

Sleep: I've been sleeping a little better than I had in previous weeks... I think the baby has dropped a little bit, giving my stomach a little more room. However, my  bladder has less room so the bathroom trips have increased.

Stretch marks: None

Gender: Boy

Movement: He's been moving a lot and his moves are getting more powerful.

Best moment this week: My final baby shower (thrown by co-workers) was the highlight of my week. I will do another post on it. Also, starting my new job, which I love so far and getting my final haircut before baby comes.

Looking forward to: I am so looking forward to holding my baby! I can't believe how close I am now! Soon we will find out what he looks like and get to know his personality! And I can't wait to introduce him to people using his real NAME!

Food cravings: I had a big craving for apple cider tonight. I am in such a festive fall mood! I stopped on the way home from work and bought some cider, harvest blend (candy corn is my weakness every fall) and several pumpkin scented candles.

Anything making you sick: I just have to watch portions. If I eat too much I feel sick. It's better if I eat small servings several times a day.

Labor signs: I think I "dropped" and I had a few more Braxton Hicks contractions this week.

What I miss: Rich changed the water and cleaned the hot tub this weekend... so it's all ready to go when I am able to get in! I also miss margaritas. I want to get a nice big frozen margarita in a few weeks!

Nursery: I can't wait to change diapers on the changing table (yes that's right... I can't wait to change diapers) and rock Pumpkin to sleep in the chair!

Belly button in or out: Outtie

Wedding rings on or off: On

Mood: Excited! And a little nervous about labor... I hope everything goes smoothly.

What's going on with baby: Baby should be packing on pounds and practicing inhaling, exhaling, sucking, gripping and blinking. He's also making his first poop (meconium) for the first diaper change.

Until next time...

Tressa

Week 36 Bumpdate

How far along: 36 weeks! Only 4 weeks to go (although the doctor informed me at my last appointment that many first pregnancies go past their due date). 

Baby size: 19-22 inches / a whopping 6 lbs

Maternity clothes: I hemmed a pair of the maternity yoga pants I ordered from Old Navy that were WAY too long. I found a how to hem pants guide online and followed it. They look great. I am so proud of myself!

Sleep: I usually don't have trouble initially falling asleep, but then I wake up sick to my stomach about an hour into sleeping. Then I have to sit up for a while and watch TV. 

Stretch marks: None

Gender: Boy

Movement: He definitely has sleep/wake cycles. There are times where I don't feel movement for a while and then other times he moves like crazy. 

Best moment this week: We did some registry completion this week and got everything we think we absolutely need (and some nice to have things). I also went to a consignment sale on Saturday and got a few more clothing items. We didn't have many newborn sized things so I thought I would pick up a few more in case he's a small baby. I also got a few cute things in bigger sizes. My best find was a  little newborn sized pumpkin halloween outfit. It was a steal at $3!

Looking forward to: My work baby shower this week. My co-workers have been pretty tight-lipped about the shower so I'm excited to see what they've been planning :) Also, I start my new job TOMORROW. My desk is all packed up and ready to make the move 3 floors down. I'm excited about this new opportunity and about all the new people I'm going to be working with.

Food cravings: Gatorade.... Gatorade over crushed ice is even better!

Anything making you sick: No food/drink in particular

Labor signs: I think I experienced my first Braxton Hicks contractions on Saturday. If labor is anything like that... I'm definitely glad I've decided to go the epidural route. 

What I miss: Having a glass on wine in the hot tub! It won't be too long now before I can do that again. 

Nursery: It's ready and waiting for it's little tenant!

Belly button in or out: I guess it's out now. I've had several people comment on how I have an outtie (from being able to see it through my shirt). I guess there's no more denying it now.

Wedding rings on or off: On

Mood: Feeling like the weeks are going by too slowly! Hopefully my new job will keep me busy and make the time go by faster.

What's going on with baby: Pumpkin should be gaining about an ounce a day at this point. I gained 2 more pounds (over 2 weeks) at this weeks doctor's appointment, bringing my total weight gain to 21 pounds. So I think I am on target to be at the lower end of the recommended weight gain range (25-35).  Baby should also be shedding his downy hair and the waxy substance (vernix caseosa) that has been protecting his skin. Baby is still pre-term at 36 weeks, but at the end of this week (37 weeks) will be considered early-term and at 39 weeks will be considered full-term.

Until next time...

Tressa

Week 35 Bumpdate

How far along: 35 Weeks! Less than 5 weeks to go (my due date is one month from this Thursday!!!!)

Baby size: 20 inches/ 5.5 pounds

Maternity Clothes: Sick of them.

Sleep: Not sleeping well. I feel sick most nights when I lay down and sometimes I actually get sick. I have to sit up to feel okay... and I can't sleep like that. Let's just say I've been watching a lot of Friends on Nick at Nite and playing a lot of Mexican Train Dominoes on my Kindle.

Stretch Marks: I still don't think I have any.

Gender: Boy

Movement: He's still moving a lot, which I love. I think I am going to miss this part of being pregnant. I think he is still in the same position he was at my last doctor appointment (head down, spine going up my right side) because I still feel movements in all the same places. We'll find out at our 36 week appointment on Thursday.

Best moment this week: Our trip to North Carolina. See my blog post here.

Looking forward to: Our 36 week doctor's appointment on Thursday. I made it for late in the afternoon and plan to just go home and relax after the appointment (instead of going back to work). Also, I am going to check out a baby consignment sale this weekend and celebrate my brother and his girlfriend's birthdays with the family on Sunday.

Food cravings: Anything icy

Anything making you sick: Laying down

Labor signs: None this week. I don't think I've had any Braxton Hicks yet. If I have, they haven't been strong enough for me to feel and realize they are contractions. I also don't think that baby has dropped yet... but I wonder if I will be able to feel that and know or if that's something the doctor will have to tell me has happened.

What I miss: Being able to put my shoes and socks on myself.

Nursery: It's complete. See my blog post here.

Belly button in or out: This might sound weird... but sometimes it's in and sometimes it's out. I think it might depend on how the baby is positioned? If I lean over it's out.

Wedding rings on or off: On... I haven't experienced any swelling in my feet or hands yet.

Mood: Anxiously awaiting and also trying to make sure we didn't forget to do anything to prepare for Pumpkin's arrival.

What's going on with baby: Baby's kidneys should be fully developed at this point and his liver should be able to process some waste. Most of his basic physical development is complete and from this point on he should be packing on fat. His body consists of about 15% fat right now and that number should double to 30% before birth.

Until next time...

Tressa

Babymoon and Lindsey and Justin's Wedding

This weekend we took our last trip as a family of two... I'm sure we will go places just the two of us again but it will be a long time before we go without worrying about the little ones we are leaving behind.

Our friends Lindsey and Justin were getting married in Highlands, North Carolina this weekend. So we decided to make a long weekend out of it and make it a dual purpose (Babymoon/Wedding) trip. We left early Friday morning for Asheville, North Carolina where we did the Biltmore estate tour. The house is absolutely beautiful and gigantic! We did the audio guide which I highly recommend. The guide gave a lot of interesting information about each of the rooms on the tour. If we didn't have the guide I probably would have just walked aimlessly from room to room and wouldn't have gotten much out of it. After our tour (which was about 2.5 hours), we drove over to Antler Hill Village which is located on the Biltmore property and had lunch. Then Rich did a wine tasting (I got to smell the wine) and picked out a few bottles to purchase and bring home so I can taste them in a few weeks!

Me with a statue of Cedric (the family dog) and Cornelia Vanderbilt in front of our lunch spot (Cedric's Tavern).

Next we walked around downtown Asheville. There seemed to be a lot of fun restaurants and bars, but not much shopping. We found this little gem though... a Jazz club named Tressa's.....

 On Friday night we drove to the Highlands, checked into our hotel, had dinner at a nice restaurant in town (Paoletti's) and called it a night.

On Saturday during the day we shopped and ate lunch in Highlands. There are tons of cute little shops. We stumbled across a little market where a woman had a 3 week old goat on a leash! He was adorable! He kind of reminded me of a cat the way he let you pet him.

 Then on Saturday evening we watch our friends get married in an absolutely beautiful ceremony at the Farm at Old Edwards. Every detail of the wedding was perfect... the flowers, Lindsey's dress, the food. I lasted until about 10:30 before I had to call it a night and take the shuttle back to the hotel.

Lindsey and her father walking down the aisle.

Rich and me during the cocktail hour

The beautiful tables set in the reception hall.

The venue was beautiful. Windows on all four sides with gardens around the whole building.

Us with the bride and groom!!!

It was a wonderful Babymoon/Wedding weekend. I can't believe it's over. Now I have to stay put in Atlanta and wait for our little Pumpkin to arrive.

Until next time,
Tressa

Baby Mayk's Nursery

Pumpkin's nursery is pretty much ready for his arrival. I love the way it turned out! It's so cozy and I love the color palette. I can't wait to read to Pumpkin and rock him to sleep in the glider.

My friend Ashley found the cute little door hanger randomly at Hobby Lobby. It matches the bedding perfectly! It's crazy how well it fits with the theme of the room.

We went with the Kendall Low Profile crib from Pottery Barn Kids. The crib and mattress were gifts from Rich's parents. I love how simple it is. It's also a great height for me to put a sleeping baby in without having to get on my tippie toes. 

The bedding is the Mist and Grey Chevron bedding from Carousel Designs. I picked it out very soon after finding out Pumpkin was a boy because I wanted to design the nursery around the bedding.

As you can see, we already have the camera for the video monitor set up in the right corner of the crib. It was a gift from our friends Mary and Sam. I have the monitor and charging base set up on my night stand also ready to go. We got the Summer Infant Baby Touch Video monitor. I love that it tells you the temperature in the room and you can talk to the baby through the camera. 

We received the Harper Elephant Mobile (from PB Kids) as a gift from Pumpkin's Aunt Laurie and Uncle Gene. It plays "Hush Little Baby." I love the little elephants and the way it looks with the bedding. We also have a Sleep Sheep sound machine in the corner which plays 4 songs and does 4 white noise type sounds. I've been holding it against my belly and playing songs for Pumpkin so maybe they will be soothing to him once he's here. 

You may also be able to see in the picture we have some under the crib storage. I read somewhere that under the crib is a good place to store diapers. When you live in a small house you have to find ways to make use of all the space you have!!!

The only thing missing from this picture is the letters of Pumpkin's name. I made them to put over the crib. They are currently in hiding until his birth ;)

Next up is the bookcase my dad custom made for Pumpkin's room. I love the bead board back and how all the shelves are different sizes. It's definitely a one-of-a kind piece. I put things at the top that I want out of Pumpkin's reach and things at the bottom that he can play with.

Some of the special things on the bookcase:

• On the top left shelf is a Kate Spade figurine from my friend Jennifer (I think it's a zebra). She purchased it for our future child before we were even expecting.
• On the top middle shelf is a drawing of a Pumpkin from my talented friend Ashley.
• On the top right shelf is a sign I purchased from Swoozies that says "When I Grow Up I Want To Be Like Daddy." I gave it to Rich for Father's Day.
• The second shelf down on the left is a sign given to Pumpkin by his Great Aunt Elaine and Great Uncle Steve at his gender reveal. It says "We Loved You Even Before You Were Born." 
• Below the sign I've stacked Pumpkin's large collection of blankets. One thing is for sure... he will never be cold :) I am currently on the hunt for something else to fill this space (it is 23" tall). I am definitely open to suggestions. 
• I put the elephant stuffed animal on the second shelf down on the right. This was another gift from Aunt Laurie and Uncle Gene.
• Below the elephant is a picture frame I picked up at Swoozies that says "Thank Heaven for Little Boys." I plan to put one of his pictures from his newborn photo shoot inside.
• Below the frame and blankets are shelves containing books, toys and a basket FULL of stuffed animals. We are currently keeping the nursery room door shut because we don't trust Rex with the stuffed animal basket. He don't understand yet that the baby's toys are off limits.

Next up is the "changing table" (really a dresser from Ikea). I love the lamp (from PB Kids) which was a gift from the baby's Great Yia Yia (Rich's grandmother). I'm glad I was able to position it to be near the chair so I can turn it on for late night feedings and not have to have the harsh overhead light on. I ordered the changing pad cover from Etsy to match the bed skirt. I also have a back up changing pad cover that matches the lamp (white with a grey ribbon on the side). The diaper basket was a Homegoods find. It matches the toy basket at the bottom of the bookcase. I am still loving all of the prints above the changing table. I find that when I show people the room, that is the thing most people are drawn to.

The glider looks a little boring right now. I've made a pillow for it with Pumpkin's name on it. It's white and I used blue and white seersucker fabric to applique his name onto it. 

 We have a lot of unused storage space on the cube shelves in the closet. I'm sure I will fill this up with toys and other misc. items over the next few months. We are using the other half of the closet to store some of the big things that we don't want out all the time... the pack in play, stroller and extra car seat base. Up top I have bins of clothes sizes 9 months and up and other things we've received that we won't be using for the first few months.

So after months of decorating... it's finally done! I tell people it's the best looking room in our house :) I can't wait to bring Pumpkin home to his beautiful nursery!

Until next time...

Tressa

Week 34 Bumpdate

How far along: 34 weeks! Less than 6 weeks until we meet our little Pumpkin!

Baby size: 19-22 inches / 4.9 pounds (Using the What to Expect App)

Maternity clothes: I was trying not to buy anymore maternity clothes for the short amount of time I have left. However, I've been trying to figure out what to wear while I am recovering at the hospital. I usually wear leggings around the house but I think they might be too tight with all the recovery stuff I might also be wearing, so I ordered 2 pairs of maternity yoga pants from Old Navy. I think I will be able to wear them for a few months after coming home as well until my regular clothes fit again. I also got a new comfy maternity t-shirt at Target last week... it was on clearance and I think it might be the most comfortable t-shirt I've ever owned.

Sleep: Still getting up a lot to go to the bathroom, but able to get back to sleep most nights. I've been having crazy pregnancy dreams... this week I dreamed that Pumpkin was born with a beard. 

Stretch marks: None

Gender: Boy

Movement: My little Pumpkin has been moving up a storm. At my 34 appointment the doctor felt and said he is head down and his back is going up my right side. I get a lot of movement on the right side... so now I think that might be his elbows jabbing me.

Best moment this week: Definitely the 3 day weekend we had for Labor Day! On Saturday we took our last class (Baby Essentials) where we learned how to swaddle, bath, burp, diaper the baby etc. and then watched football (Gooooooo Dawgs!!!). On Sunday we celebrated Rex's birthday by taking him to the lake and went to Verde for dinner, and on Monday we ran some errands and Rich's parents brought us BBQ for dinner. We also installed the car seat this weekend.....

We put the stuffed elephant in the car seat in order to adjust the mirror on the back of the seat so I could see the baby's face.

Looking forward to: This weekend!!!! This week is a 3 day work week for Rich and me. Bright and early Friday morning we are going to head up to Asheville and tour the Biltmore Estate. Then we will head over to the Highlands Friday evening where we have a dinner reservation at a nice Italian restaurant. On Saturday my dear friend from college and Ernst and Young is getting married in the Highlands and then we will head home on Sunday. This is our last trip before we become parents!

Food cravings: Crushed ice or anything frozen and icy. I tried the Arnold Palmer Coolatta from Dunkin Donuts this weekend and it was "the best thing since sliced bread!!!"

Anything making you sick: I've been getting a lot of acid reflex, especially at night. I don't think it's being caused by any food in particular. The doctor said acid reflex is here to stay until I have the baby.

Labor signs: None this week... thank goodness :)

What I miss: Turkey sandwiches... pretty soon I will be able to have one!

Nursery: My dad brought the bookcase over yesterday and I spent some time organizing the shelves. I think the room is pretty much done. I will do a blog post on the nursery sometime this week. Here's a sneak peek of the bookcase....

My dad wrote a message for Pumpkin on the bottom of the bookcase: "To Pumpkin and all who follow. A little something to remember me (Pa Pa) by. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers for the rest of your life. Love Pa Pa."

Belly button in or out: Surprisingly still in.

Wedding ring on or off: Still on... it's been giving me a rash the last few weeks. I don't know if pregnancy has changed my skin composition or what.

Mood: Definitely nesting. The cleaning people came today and did their detailed clean. Also, I organized the hall closet last week and the laundry room this weekend. I've been washing baby clothes, organizing baby items and taking an inventory of the final things I need to pick up before he comes. 

Workouts: I'm doing away with this section because I no longer have anything to put here :(  Despite not really working out, I only gained 1 pound at my last doctor appointment, bringing my total weight gain to 19 pounds. They say you should gain 25 to 35 pounds for a healthy pregnancy. I'm hoping to keep the weight gain to the lower end of the range.

What's going on with baby: Baby can now recognize and react to familiar songs. If you sing or play a song for him a lot now, it may soothe him after birth (I'm going to try it!). He is also urinating a pint a day.

Until next time...

Tressa