34 weeks.

Just six more weeks and we get to meet our little girl! As Mothers Day came and went this past week I thought so much about what it will mean to be a Mother to this sweet daughter of mine. I recognize that I am already providing for her in so many ways right now, and already feel like a Momma. I know that feeling will intensify when she is here and I get to hold her in my arms, and squeeze her tight, and love on her! Since I’m only a soon to be Momma right now I wasn’t really expecting anything this Mother’s Day. One of a million reasons I love my husband, Glenn took me out to an Ihop breakfast on Saturday, bought me a balance ball to stretch my pregnant body, and made a pasta creation dinner for me on Sunday. It was nice to feel appreciated for carrying this baby. 

I am looking more pregnant. For the longest time I thought I was really showing and I guess my belly was more subtle than I thought. Now it’s very obvious. I can’t go anywhere without someone commenting on my baby belly. When we were at Ihop the greeter kept saying to us, ‘you mean table for three’, like he was so clever. People are constantly telling me that I look amazing, from the back I don’t look pregnant at all, that I’m all belly, and it’s all very flattering so thank you. There was only one instance where someone thought the opposite and guessed I was actually more pregnant. A woman in my Pilates class complimented me for still coming at 8 months pregnant, I was only 6 ½ months pregnant at the time. I’m feeling good, and don’t mind that my belly has taken over since it means my baby is healthy and growing. I am really feeling the much more obvious belly. This baby girl is getting heavy and I have to stick pillows underneath my belly to support the weight and be more comfortable. Now that she’s a lot bigger, she is a lot stronger too. Oh my she is strong! Sometimes my belly literally bulges out where she is moving. Now that baby is sticking out further, I drip toothpaste on my shirt practically every time I brush my teeth. I love my stomach at this stage though. I am always trying to figure out what position baby girl is in, sometimes my whole stomach is all lopsided from how she is positioned, and I’m always resting my hands on the top of my belly and rubbing my belly.  

With looking more pregnant comes feeling more pregnant. In the past couple weeks I have had my first experiences with Braxton Hicks contractions. The first time they happened took me by surprise and I thought it was kind of early. The pain wasn’t unbearable but they lasted for a long time and I just need to sit or lay down. The next time I recognized the tightening in my stomach immediately for what it was. I am in awe of my body, how it’s taking care of this baby so far, and now preparing itself for delivery. This is truly what my body was built to do. I am learning to respect that my little pregnant body does have limitations and I can’t do things like I normally would. The dresser flipping business is in full swing, and the other day I spent three hours hunched over sanding. Not my brightest idea considering I could barely move my back afterwards. Now I’m trying to listen to my body, take longer breaks, or quit for the day if necessary. This past weekend we ran a lot of errands, and I was standing and walking around a lot. It was the first time my feet have really been sore, and Glenn thought my ankles were a tiny bit swollen too. I’m just hoping my feet will hold up for the 5k we’re signed up to do in three weeks. A 5k at over 37 weeks, am I crazy?! I will probably be walk/waddling at that point but I’m really motivated to do it even if I’m super slow. I have so much faith in the power of stretching, and that’s when my body feels its best. Glenn will help push me into deeper stretches that I couldn’t do on my own, and always reminds me to breathe. I know he will be an excellent breathing coach when I am in labor. I always sleep so much better on the nights we do our couple stretching. One night Glenn was really sore from running and I offered to help stretch him out as well. His facial expressions looked like he was agony, I think he may have shed a tear, or peed a little in the process, I couldn’t help laughing. I’m also loving and already using my balance ball all the time, I just know we will be best friends the rest of this pregnancy.

 

The only part of this pregnancy I’m uneasy about is the when? I actually asked my Doctor if she would guarantee me that this baby will come on her due date. She basically just laughed at my request and told me all the reasons that’s not a possibility. With all sincerity though, I wasn’t joking. I want this baby girl to come when she feels ready. I want to be flexible when it comes to the labor and delivery, and not be upset if baby girl doesn’t come according to my plans. I just really would love for my Mother to be there. It’s so hard to coordinate when she should fly here from California when babies are so unpredictable, early, on time, late, who knows? Honestly it is stressing me out. It may sound silly but I’m feeling pressure to have her at the ‘right time’ so that my mom doesn’t miss it. Glenn has to constantly remind me that I can’t control the Universe! He has been an amazing comfort, and I’m so grateful for the balance he brings to our marriage and my semi crazy tendencies. I know we will be the perfect team when it comes to raising our daughter!

 

Mother's Day photo shoot at 33 weeks, 3 days.

Puppy Mom and soon to be human Mom!

I love the way the sun is hitting and we look like glowing parents to be.

Soccer throwback.

In an effort to conquer a nasty virus that had overtaken my computer, I did a thorough clean-up of everything that was on there. While doing so I came across some photo gems from the years that I played soccer. I played soccer for 5 years during my elementary school years. To be honest I was never any good. My parents would bribe me with a brand new Barbie if I scored a goal during the game. I never did get that Barbie. When I would play on defense I would actually sit down on the field and pick weed flowers and stick them in my hair. Luckily I got slightly more athletic as I got older, but still just as girly as ever! Glenn was ecstatic to see pictures of me at this age. He said he hopes baby girl is half as cute as I was at this age. He is nice considering one of the photos I straight up vomited before our team photo.

 

1995.




1995. I played with the Hornets for two years. I would get a special ordered trophy with a girl on top. We never lost a game - I'm sure no thanks to my skills, but I loved it! My Daddy is the assistant coach in the yellow.




1996. Pigtail braids and bangs. I pretty much owned this look until I started high school.



1997.



1997.

 

 

Dexter.

Wednesday night I was having unpleasant spasms in my buttocks. Possibly another pregnancy symptom I didn’t know about. We didn’t go to the gym like we normally do for this reason. Instead, I was attempting to remove the nasty virus that had locked down my laptop, Rocky was staring out the window, and Glenn was relaxing on the couch unwinding from work. Rocky barks at something out the window. Not unusual, I don’t even look. Glenn looks up, asks me, where is Lexi? She was sitting right next to me. He suddenly jumps up because he had just seen a small, soaking wet, Lexi-ish type dog sitting on our back patio. The dog had run off to the neighbors back porch, where two neighbor kids had also spotted him, and he was huddled back in a corner, completely terrified, freezing, drenched, dirty, and the saddest little puppy you ever did see. Glenn picks him up and starts to warm him up in a towel and we attempt to feed him and give him some water. He is so tiny but uninterested in eating. He later vomits twice so I think he was just so nervous. The dog has a collar, but no tags. It’s after 7:00 and the front office of our complex is closed so we know he will be spending the night. We bring him inside and Glenn holds puppy no name for a while until we introduce him to Rocky and Lexi. Puppy no name is filthy so Glenn gives all three dogs a bath at once. We all start to become friends and settle in for a family movie night. By this point we had started calling puppy no name Dexter, because seriously a dog needs a real name. Dex was not the best at calming down for a movie. By this point we discovered Dex wasn’t neutered and all he wanted was some sweet lovin from Rocky. Glenn had to restrain Dex in his arms to get him to leave poor Rocky alone. When it came time for bed, Lexi hid under our bed, Rocky attempted to hide under a pile of three blankets, but Dex knew he was there, and we finally had to put Dex in a crate for the night.  

Morning comes. Glenn is able to feed Dex a string cheese, so at least he wouldn’t be starving anymore. I go up to the front office and report our found dog, hoping he belongs to someone in our complex. Of course it wasn’t that easy. He didn’t belong to anyone in the complex across the street either. Dexter where did you come from?! Someone gave you that tag-less collar, horribly home-done haircut, and must be missing you. Dexter spends the day with us and has started to get comfortable in our home, smushing down the throw pillows to lay on like our dogs, cuddling, getting in some good playtime with our puppies, and only occasionally trying to torment Rocky. Progress, but we definitely can’t keep him. Fate intervened. Glenn had talked to our neighbor the night before and asked if he recognized Dex. No, but his poodle Cosmo had just died after ten years of owning him. He said he wasn’t planning on a new dog so soon, but maybe this was fate, and he was willing to take Dex if we couldn’t find the owners. So that night Dex goes to live with John in his new home.  

Morning comes again. Glenn kisses a still in bed me goodbye, and who is he holding in his arms, Dexter! John was worried about leaving him home alone already and asked if he could stay with me and our dogs for the day. Right now I am typing on the couch and have three puppies curled up to me on the couch. I’m feeling the love. I’m grateful for my butt spasms. I think about how we wouldn’t have normally been home, and who knows what would have happened to this sweet little puppy. It breaks my heart to think how long he could have been wandering alone outside. I’m grateful to John for wanting Dexter. I’m sure his Cosmo is enjoying puppy Heaven. Lesson learned: We will be purchasing tags for our puppies currently tag-less collars this weekend. Also, Glenn and I can’t resist rescuing a stray puppy. This is not the first time.

Becoming friends.

Dexter.

We're having a baby next month, hopefully.

Dear Baby D!

Some people are trying to convince me that you will most likely come late. My Mother thinks the world will be celebrating your arrival with fireworks on the 4th of July. I don’t believe them. I am getting a teensy bit impatient to meet you and am optimistic that you will be cooperative and come right on your due date. It’s June, 27 don’t forget ;-) You have been very squirmy lately and I think it’s because you’re just as eager to meet us as we are to meet you. I love feeling you moving around inside me. It’s the most amazing feeling and it excites me each and every time. I can distinguish the differences between you kicking and jabbing, doing little yoga stretches, and your personal favorite, somersaults! Sometimes I think you are going for a record how many times you can roll over without getting dizzy. I have discovered that you, like your Momma, love sugar! Anytime I eat anything sweet you have a crazy burst of energy. You are also quite the night owl. You are always the most active in the evenings and especially when your Momma is trying to sleep. I wonder if this will be a habit of yours after you are born? We are getting more prepared for your arrival. We even have a carseat now, thanks to your GG-MA, and can legally bring you home from the hospital. Your Daddy and I talk about what life will be like when you get here constantly! We love you and can’t wait to meet you.

Love, Your Momma

7 months!

7 months!

6 1/2 months pregnant at prom!

Have I mentioned what an incredibly nice person my husband is recently?! With 5 days to go until prom he volunteers to build the photo backdrop, decorate, and be the karaoke DJ on prom night. He basically saved what would have been a very lame prom. I even helped by glittering 6 of those giant masks.