39 weeks pregnant + blessing way

Technically today was my original due date based on my cycle but based on ultrasounds I have one week left. ;) 

I'm seriously trying to enjoy every moment as much as I can but that is really hard to do when being pregnant is so difficult. I wish I could enjoy my pregnancy like I did with Ezra but this SPD is kicking my butt. I'm surprised I can still stand at the end of the day! Sleeping isn't helping the issue anymore either, thanks to pregnancy insomnia. I'll wake up at like 2 am and then only sleep in 20-30 minute increments for the rest of the night. I'm so not used to that - I usually sleep like a rock. I guess it's preparing me for nightly feedings with the new baby. ;) If only not sleeping was my only problem... I won't bore you with the details of all the pain I go through with my back/pelvis issues but if you think about it, please pray for me! I'd really appreciate it. :)

I had a blessing way last Tuesday which was absolutely awesome. If you're unfamiliar with a blessing way, basically myself and about 10 other ladies got together for yummy snacks and each lady brought 2 identical beads with her: one for herself and one for me. She kept one to wear on a bracelet to remember to pray for me whenever she looked at it during the last couple weeks of my pregnancy, and then she gave me the other one to put on a bracelet so that I have each bead with me during labor to remember all the people who are praying for me and to help me focus. Then each lady gave me one word (which they also wrote in a photo album where we would put a picture of us together) that they wanted me to focus on. Words like patience, joy, love, faithful... they all explained why they chose that word and what it should mean to me in my situation. It was really amazing. Then we all just talked about birth stories and other fun mom things while I got a foot and hand massage to relax and pamper me. They all wrote encouraging words on a banner that I can put in my hospital room during labor and then they all gathered around and prayed for me. It was such an encouraging night (and obviously pink & cheetah themed) and I can definitely feel when one of them is praying for me during the day. I often have anxiety about going for a VBAC and wondering when labor will begin so the pregnancy pain can end. I know that it's all in God's hands and He will choose the perfect birth date for our baby girl. I am so blessed.

This weekend has been so perfect. I love having Marcus home to spend time with me and Ezra. Ezra got a water table for Christmas so we finally put it to use now that it's been super nice outside. I have been waiting for nice weather so that Ezra can play outside for MONTHS! He basically just splashed all the water out of the table and soaked himself, but he loved it. We went on a walk on Sunday which was probably not a good idea since I felt like I was going to fall apart by the time we got home, but we stopped for lemonade on the way which I'd been craving. Yummmmm. 

Today, on Memorial Day, we went to my parents' house where my mom had a kiddie pool filled up with warm water for Ezra. We put some toys in it which he proceeded to throw out of the pool so that we threw them back in so that he could throw them out again. Then he stepped in and out of the pool about 50 times in a row. We would all cheer for him when he got in and out without falling (because he's not the most graceful toddler) and he would clap for himself and then splash so much that water got all over him. He was loving it. Then we went to Marcus' grandma's house where all of his family was painting all day and Ezra ran around in the grass until it was time to go. 

Ezra is such a fun toddler and deserves the world. As much as I love spending all my time with him, we're so ready for his baby sister to arrive... hopefully soon! 

Hope you had a great long weekend, and Happy Memorial Day! 

38 weeks!

This baby seriously can't get any lower. I woke up yesterday morning (Sunday) and could barely walk to the bathroom. I knew that either Squirt's head was even lower than the day before, or my pelvis was splitting in half even more. I was pretty sure something was broken or Squirt was about to fall out. This morning at my 38 week appointment, my doctor checked to see if I was dilated any more and the first thing she said was, "oh yeah this baby is really low... you're probably feeling a lot more pressure!" And I was like, "...uh, yeah!" She said the baby is at a -1 station which is pretty good news because it means progress (and I was only at a -2 station when I was induced with Ezra) but it's also not-so-good news because it means that until Squirt decides to come out, I get to waddle and feel like I'm falling apart. I take my weekly bump picture in our basement since we have a big, blank wall down there and getting back up the stairs was quite the task. I could only go up one step at a time, right leg first and am still sore 10 minutes later. 

My fundal height is still 35cm (for the 4th week in a row - since 35 weeks) which I'm pretty sure just means that she is dropping more. I'm still a fingertip dilated and 80% effaced like last week which is a little disappointing but hopefully the fact that she dropped more means she's on her way to come all on her own! I would love to have a May baby and our schedules are pretty clear after tomorrow so she can come aaaaaany time now. ;) 

Happy Monday! 

I'll pray for you... maybe.

How often do you see a status of a friend on Facebook who posts that they're struggling or asking for prayer for a certain request? I see this on my news feed multiple times daily. How many times do you say, "I'll pray for you"? How many times do you actually pray for them?

It's so easy to say the simple phrase, "I'll be praying for you" when you see a friend in need of prayer or who is having a hard time. Sometimes it's the only thing you can think to say. It might be comforting to whomever you say this to, but just saying that you'll pray for them doesn't really do anything for them.

I know how easy it is to forget to do something moments after you say or think about doing it, especially when you have a million and one other things on your mind. I've been there before: I've told someone I would pray for them and then totally forgot about it until the next day... or longer. Obviously that's not a habit I want to have. 

I have challenged myself to follow through with praying for everyone that I say, "I'll pray for you" to. For the past several months, since this idea of forgetting to pray for people who need it has been brought up to me, I've made a point to stop what I'm doing and pray for someone who asked for prayer right then and there. If I see a status on Facebook of someone asking for prayer, I don't just leave a comment that I'll be praying for them, because I know that just saying it doesn't do any good. I say that I'll pray for them, stop scrolling through Facebook, and genuinely lift them up in prayer. Even better, I will pray for them before I even leave a comment and then tell them, "just prayed for you!" Sometimes when someone is in need, knowing someone is already praying for them is more comforting than knowing that someone will pray for them... hopefully. 

I keep a list on my phone of things I've been praying for. When someone has a continuous need, I keep that prayer need in a list on my phone so that I can come back to it and pray over the people and the situation multiple times. (I'm a type A person so I need lists - it can be hard to remember all the people that need prayer!) 

Probably the best thing I can do for someone who asks me for prayer is to pray with them, right where we are. If someone I'm having a face-to-face conversation with is struggling, how awesome would it be to pray with them right where you are, rather than telling them you'll pray for them later, even if you remember to actually pray for them? I can do this even when I'm not in the physical presence of someone. There have been a lot of times where I've typed out a prayer in a text message, Facebook comment or private instant message. It can be so encouraging to actually hear (or read) a prayer rather than just knowing you're being prayed for. It can make a big difference. 

The next time a friend asks for prayer, I encourage you to stop what you're doing and pray for them, rather than just saying you will and hoping you remember. It can be so easy to forget, and I'm sure your friend will appreciate your immediate prayers. 

37 weeks - full term! + Mother's Day

As of today, I'm 37 weeks and 2 days pregnant. That means baby is full term! 

I hope all you moms had a wonderful Mother's Day! I definitely did. My day started off with breakfast in bed: bacon, egg & cheese biscuits (with extra bacon) made by my husband. And I got to sleep in until 8:30! Ezra and Squirt each gave me a Thirty-One bag. Ezra gave me the All-Pro Tote (which was an April special) and Squirt got me a large utility tote in "cross pop pink" (I think?). I used the utility tote in Squirt's closet to hold all her extra crib sheets and blankets and the All-Pro tote will be a great beach/pool bag! Marcus gave me a gift card to K&W Greenery so that I can buy hanging baskets and flowers to plant. I'm so excited! 

We went to church where I got a sweet card from my brother & his girlfriend and then we went to Olive Garden with them and my parents for lunch. We went to my mom's house afterwards to play games and let Ezra nap. My mom gave me a present which was another large utility tote but in the print "pink lotsa dots" and it had my name on the front in turquoise. This will be my hospital overnight bag for when Squirt decides to arrive. ;) My mom filled the tote with a ton of cheetah print stuff: a water cup with lid for in the hospital, a picture frame for Squirt's room, flip flops and nursing pajamas. Then she got me slippers for the hospital, and she got Ezra a onesie that says "big bro" with a matching "lil sis" one for Squirt, along with 4 pairs of cute leg warmers for her, plus a little baby doll. :)

After Ezra woke up, we went to Marcus' parents house to give his mom her gift and Ezra played with Marcus' younger sister. And by played with, I mean he threw a toy ball at her several times in a row and she would toss it back. He thought it was hilarious. 

This week we finally finished (almost!) the nursery! All we're waiting on is for the curtains to be made. We hung her name on the wall (which is the cutest thing ever) and hung the tulle pom poms in the corner that I said my mom ordered on Etsy. They're super cute and will give baby Squirt something to look up at when she's laying in her crib! 

I absolutely adore the nursery. I can't wait to reveal the entire thing, curtains and name included! ;)

Now, on to more important business: my doctor's appointment today. Baby girl's heart rate was about 140. I'll never get tired of hearing that sound! My belly measured 35 cm again (same as last week) which just means baby is dropping. My doctor did mention that this could mean she will be smaller than Ezra was (he was born at 7 lbs 7 oz) because at 37 weeks with him, I'm pretty sure my belly measured 36 cm. Not a huge difference but I'd love another small baby! ;) My doctor said baby is even lower this week and is at a -2 station, which is lower than Ezra was when I was induced with him at 40 weeks 6 days. So that's good! I definitely feel her little head down there... ouch! I'm still a fingertip dilated but I'm 80% effaced, which is 80% more than last week! I'm so thankful that I'm making progress on my own. VBAC here I come! We are so ready for baby Squirt to make her appearance, so as soon as she's ready to come out, we will excitedly welcome her! There's a full moon tonight, and they say that can put you into labor (it happened to a few people I know!) so we'll see... ;) 

Happy Wednesday! 

36 weeks!

4 weeks to go - it feels unreal! I must say, I'm getting a bit impatient. Everyone seems to be convinced that she will be born this month but I just don't know... that'd be nice, though! This baby just keeps on dropping. I had my husband draw a line on the wall where the bottom of my belly was and another line where my belly button was so we could compare. 2 days later, he drew the lines again and they were each 3/4 of an inch lower! That was after she dropped majorly over a week ago (right before 35 weeks). 

I had an OB appointment today and my belly is measuring 35cm. It's been on track for my whole pregnancy so far so my doctor said baby definitely did drop (you measure smaller once baby drops, otherwise you should measure as many centimeters as you are weeks along, for those who don't know). She also said I'm dilated a fingertip! Yeah, I know, you're probably thinking "big deal..." but since I'm having a VBAC, I have to go into labor on my own and I wasn't a fingertip dilated until 38 weeks with Ezra so I'm making progress! She said the baby is "at the top of the birth canal" - I'm not sure what that means station wise... maybe a -3 station? I seriously have no idea. I'm not thinned out but my cervix is softening. Overall, cervical changes don't matter much because you can be dilated for weeks and still go past your due date or you can be not dilated at all and go into labor the next day, so we'll see how I progress the next few weeks. I just need this baby to come out on her own! 

Some awesome friends of mine are making custom curtains to match the crib set which is one of the final things we need for the nursery. We have to hang the letters for her name above her crib and hang the pom pom balls in the corner. The screws are already in place for both of these things so I just have to get it done.

Technically, I already made and hung her tissue pom pom balls, but I don't love how they turned out. My mom and I made 3 of them and we used 12 sheets of tissue paper for one (white) and 10 for the other two (pink and brown). The white one is nice and full but the pink and brown ones just look a little funny. They're almost too big or something, and once I hung them, I realized they spin so I can't just fluff up the front with stuff from the back because a different side is always facing out and there isn't enough tissue paper to make them look nice and full. So my mom went on Etsy and found some tulle pom poms and ordered them instead. They should arrive this week and they'll look much better - which will ease my perfectionist spirit. :)

I've started packing the hospital bag, I printed off my birth plan, and I got baskets and a shoe organizer so her hutch/changing table is nicely organized now as well as all of her shoes.

The brown basket to the right of her changing pad has diapers, wipes and all her toiletries in it. The round basket above it has pacifiers and the long basket to the left of that has burp cloths. On the top shelf are some cute headbands displayed on the left, and in the pink basket is leggings, tights and fancy socks. The brown basket on the top right has hats some other random accessories. In the top drawer is size NB-6 month onesies, some leg warmers and bloomers. The second drawer is pajamas size NB-3 month and the bottom drawer is empty. The cabinet on the right just has bath towels in it right now. 

She has 55 pairs of shoes now, up to size 3 plus one pair of size 5 (because they were pink and cheetah and my mom saw them at Goodwill so she obviously had to get them). I'm pretty sure none of these shoes were full price. A lot of them were from consignment shops, a couple from Goodwill, and the rest on major clearance at either Children's Place or TJ Maxx. The only "full price" ones were from Zulily, but Zulily has discounted prices already. If you haven't ever been on Zulily, you need to do it! They have SUCH cute clothes and accessories and toys, all discounted. They even have maternity items, women's clothing and even kitchen and household items. I can not wait to put these shoes on Squirt! Hopefully only 4 weeks until I can! ;)