Pregnancy: 39/40 weeks.

 Behold the belly...

Lack of inspiration has hit. My anxious soul has found a place that words can't describe. I never thought it would be this hard - waiting. You'd think I've waited 9 months, I could wait another week or two without much harm. But it is so difficult knowing that this young lady is baked and ready to come, she just hasn't decided she's ready to meet us yet. Come on, Little!

Justin and I have been cheering her on, chanting her name, and trying desperately to convince her that it is time for her to make her grand appearance.  Everyone is getting anxious. My mom's car has been packed for weeks, ready to hit the road as soon as she she gets the call. Neighbors are scoping out our house and noticing little changes - (such as our lights being on past 10:00 pm, which is very unusual). I'm getting daily texts and phone calls from church members and friends to see if anything has changed or if we've had 'the baby' yet. All of this has been wonderful and I am so happy that others are sharing in our excitement, but it does, kind of, make me feel as if I'm letting all of them down by still being pregnant. 


This whole pregnancy I have been going by the due date my OB in Augusta gave me, which was revised considering Little has been measuring a week behind in every ultrasound. That date was Nov. 15th. We haven't made it there yet. But, my OB here in McComb has has still been calculating it as Nov. 8th - which has come and gone and left me far too anxious to meet this little one than words can describe.

We were hoping Little would come on Justin's birthday, November 7th. We did everything practical to make that happen, but we failed and she's still cooking. Sunday we went for an hour walk around the neighborhood (which is a 30 minute increase in the time I walk everyday) - and at my doctor's appointment on Tuesday I was still the same as I was 3 weeks ago. 3 cm dilated, 50% effaced. Needless to say, I left very discouraged. My OB swept my membranes, in hopes of enticing labor to start, but nothing happened other than horrible cramps.

I have another appointment today to discuss options and to have a final ultrasound to check final measurements. My doctor doesn't like her patients to go past 41 weeks, so induction will be on the tongue today. An option I really hope not to have to accept.

In this time we ask for your help in prayer. Please pray as our final days of being a family of two come to an end that we can spend our time enjoying the special nature of the last few moments. Please pray for Little's health and happiness and safety during childbirth. Pray for my mom to have a safe 14 hour drive. And please pray for me.

We'll keep you posted on the progress and events to come! :)

Pregnancy: 37 Weeks

 I have been bad about keeping up with the weekly baby progress. At 37 weeks, 3 days we are now in 'waiting for baby' mode. Justin and I have been walking, walking, walking, eating spicy foods and pineapple, going on weekend hikes, and everything else that is supposed to naturally help soften the cervix and entice dilation.

A little too much information? Sorry.

At this point, getting a good nights sleep is growing exponentially harder, and I am just assuming that this is God's way of preparing me for the nights that are soon to come.

At my last doctor's appointment (on Tuesday) I was 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced. She said I was progressing well and the baby could come from any day to a couple weeks from now. Either way, woah, Little will be here SOON!

The nursery is prepped and ready with all of the stuff that an infant will need for survival (at least I hope so). 

My belly is somehow STILL growing, and I waddle - not just a cute, little sway from side to side while I walk, either. I look like a duck.

Besides the lack of sleep and the waddling, this pregnancy has been much easier than I imagined. I am thankful to have been blessed with good health and no swollen ankles or stretchmarks throughout this adventure. As we prepare to meet our little girl in the next little while, my heart is overwhelmed with the blessings that surround me.  Justin and I are so amazed that we will soon be using all of our past experiences, our parents examples, and God's word to guide us through the marvelous journey of raising a child. As we grow increasingly anxious and the day of meeting our new family member draws closer, keep us in your prayers. We ask for prayers for Little's health, a safe delivery, and for our future beyond the delivery room - for us to lead a Godly example for our kids, to be loving, kind, patient, and wise.

I feel every emotion imaginable. One moment I feel completely confident and prepared, and the very next second I feel I am way too young to be having a child. Sometimes I feel overly excited and the next I feel more nervous than I have ever felt. They say this is normal, and I suppose it is to be expected. Our lives are changing, but I love the life I live now. How can a little baby change what we have for the better? And some how, I know she will. I know when I see her face, when I hold her in my arms, everything will be right. Our hearts will be filled with more love than we can currently imagine and we will not want to come back to this time before her.

These were just a few of the random thoughts that have been plaguing my mind lately. Sitting on ready, waiting for those first contractions is more difficult that I imagined it'd be. We will meet her when the time is right, and we will find out when that is soon enough.

Pregnancy: Week 34

 6 weeks to Little!

Whew! Yesterday concluded our birthing classes. If things did not seem real or like they were progressing before, we definitely feel it now. From touring the hospital, watching a video of several women given birth, and seeing just how the labor bed comes apart and gets put back together for the different stages of the birthing process - our eyes were opened in a big way.

The handsome one has been full of questions lately and seemingly analyzing every action I take or pain I have trying to determine if it is pregnancy-induced or me just overreacting. He's also observed that I'm at least 3 inches wider from navel to back than from side to side, which is ultimately a little disheartening but I guess it should have been expected.

With my belly taking the shape of a torpedo as I begin to waddle, I'm constantly approached with the concerned question: How are you feeling? I stop and think and can't help but feel absolutely weird and fantastic all at the same time. When I feel the little feet and a hard bottom rolling around under my ribs or in my side - realizing that there is really a little person inside of me, how can I not feel anything but weird and fantastic? 


On the home front, the nursery is pretty much ready. Tiny little girly outfits are washed and arranged by size in the closet. With only a few picture frames to paint and hang, we’re now left to wait out the last few weeks until Little gets here. Our emotions and feelings are all over the place as we constantly contemplate life as a family of three. Life with a newborn. Life where traveling will now include packing strollers, car seats, diapers, and bottles.

Our lives will change. They already have. It has been a beautiful ride so far, but we are anticipating the journey to get even sweeter as our family expands and we watch our little girl grow.

Pregnancy: Week 32

 This past week passed by extremely fast and not much has changed in pregnancy land - still fascinated by the squirming that goes on inside of me and still completely entranced by the thought of having a daughter in a couple months.

  Although it has happened on occasion throughout my pregnant life, this week has really triggered my imagination and curiosity. Every time I feel her kick, with every movement she makes, my heart starts racing and my imagination runs wild. From all of the hopes and dreams that we hold for her to what she's going to look like and who's nose she will have, she captivates my thoughts completely.

 When Justin places his hand on my belly and gets that certain sweet look in his eyes, the one that is reserved for the times when he is thinking of only her, my life is perfect, my heart expands, and I am completely consumed by more love than I could ever imagine. Seeing the sheer adoration for his unborn child written across my husband's face makes every step along this journey precious.

 So, I close my eyes to take it all in. It will be over before we know it, and the precious movements I feel now will be just a distant memory. So, as much as I look forward to holding this little girl in my arms and covering her with kisses, I embrace this time and enjoy the closeness.

Pregnancy: Week 31

Two months to Little. 

  Yesterday marked exactly two months until my estimated due date, November 15. Which leaves me thinking: How prepared are we to have a baby? I mean, I've read close to a million magazines and books from cover to cover trying to absorb as much advice as possible, Googled every thought that has half way crossed my mind, and freaked out over every big and small thing imaginable ever since we found out, but when it comes down to it I feel just as clueless as when I started. 

  Researching everything from shots to swaddling, cloth diapering to genetic screenings, colic to kegels - it's all a bit overwhelming. And to be honest, all I feel like doing is photocopying the highlighted pages in all of these baby books and posting them to the walls around the house for quick reference in my time of need. (If I frame the articles it wouldn't look quite so tacky, would it?)

  Anyway, I guess I'm trying to say: it's crunch time. My baby knowledge absorption needs to be kicked into high gear, and quick.  

  As of Tuesday (which is when I was technically 31 weeks) I had gained 12 lbs. My blood test to determine iron levels came back perfect, and my fundal measurement is right on target. I have not yet been plagued with swelling of any kind, but fatigue and frequent restroom breaks have once again entered my daily routine.

  Little is putting all of her weight behind her kicks and squirms now. Her breathtaking movements can be seen from across the room as my belly shakes from side to side as she practices her dancing (I think she's secretly trying to choreograph her Aunt Brii's Christmas Concert. :) ) 

  My short torso leaves a very small amount of room for Little to get comfortable without it feeling as if she's trying to bust her way out through my belly button. When this happens I simply try to calmly persuade her into staying in mommy's incubator just a couple more months, as it would be best for her survival that way.  I think we've already tried to bribe her with lots of hugs and kisses, and maybe even a horse, if she would kindly quit leaving bruises on my ribs. She still causes aches and pains, but she will still receive a million of those hugs and kisses we've promised, just don't tell her that yet. :)  

  Nine weeks to go. 

Pregnancy: Week 30

At 30 weeks pregnant I feel really clumsy. As my short torso expands, my center of gravity has been thrown a bit off scale. Getting out of bed in the middle of the night has never been such a balancing act until now.  

Some nights I'll cuddle up to Justin, belly slightly touching his back, and listen to him giggle as he feels Little toss and turn and kick him repetitively. She's quickly running out of room as she continues to grow, but we're not ready to serve her an eviction notice quite yet. A little over 2 months to go! 

This week's cravings have consisted of ice cream, SweeTarts, and Pumpkin Spiced Lattes from Starbucks. (I wonder if Starbucks sells that in decaf?) 

We're three-quarters of the way through and getting more and more excited as the days pass on. Our love grows stronger for this little person as we begin to completely realize that our lives will never be the same. With every movement of the belly and every heartbeat heard, we are aware of the blessings that surround us.

Pregnancy: Week 29

 

As week 29 comes to a close, Justin and I are preparing to hop on a plane bound for Colorado. Our exact destination in the state is unknown to me - I only know that there will be mountains and cool weather! I am getting less mobile each day as belly expands at a exponential rate, so there may not be as much hiking on our babymoon as there was on our honeymoon, but hopefully the scenery will be just as spectacular! We will be internet-free for the next five days, but we should return on Monday night with lots of great pictures.

Pregnancy: Week 27

Leaps and flips and kicks and punches. These are all apart of Little's daily routine. The belly is growing to the point where even my biggest pre-pregnancy t-shirt is far too snug to fit comfortably.

3 months to go.

The sparkle in Justin's eyes and the sweet kisses that are transferred from his lips to the-not-so-much-of-just-a-bump belly are by far the best part of this pregnancy. As the days pass, the love grows stronger, reality begins to set in, and our excitement abounds beyond measure.

Pregnancy: Week 25.

  Week 25 has been a period of a few adjustments. I have reached the point of feeling uncomfortably big and bloated at times. Tums and body pillows have become my best friends. And if it weren't enough that heartburn and sleeplessness has become part of the everyday routine...eating smaller meals are quite the necessity, since there’s just not enough room for all my internal organs and an overly full stomach to share the space with a growing fetus.

  Week 25 came with new challenges, but those do not in anyway out weigh the best part yet. This week has also revealed a different side of Justin. He's been more than wonderful in accepting my aches and pains, massaging whatever hurts, understanding when I accidentally use his face in the middle of the night to turn over, or whatever crazy hormone induced argument I attempt to start.  Although I'm still considered a drama queen, he is proving time and time again that love grows daily, in many ways.

  As much as I love feeling Little move and squirm inside of my expanding belly, I am more in awe of my husband when he is in entranced by the show she throws right before bedtime. Her movements are captivating, but the glow radiating from his smile is truly beautiful and loving. We laugh at her kicks, her wiggles, and the way my stomach becomes lopsided as she switches sides during her show-stopping performances. 

  This is truly an amazing experience. We still have a few months to go before she makes her grand entrance, so until then, we are thankful for good health, mesmerized by the daily and weekly changes, and see the challenges we encounter as only a small part of this fun journey. 

Pregnancy week: 24

   This week has been a rather slow week in the blog world for me, and I apologize for my lack of appearances. Justin and I have been crazy busy since my last post, and I, unfortunately, think this upcoming week will be the same. Sadly, there will be no belly picture corresponding with week 24 on this post, since I accidentally left my camera chord in Mississippi, and I am in SC for the week, spending some much needed time with the family. 

  As soon as Justin pulled in the drive on Friday afternoon, we hopped in the car again to make our way towards Athens, GA. While staying with his parents for the weekend, we were able to fellowship with some great friends and hear some good preaching at Moriah Primitive Baptist Church, as it was the weekend of their Annual Meeting. Then on Sunday, we met my mom and my aunt in Madison, GA for them to taxi me back to SC for the week.

   Monday night, several of my aunts went in together to throw Little and me a very cute and sweet baby shower. With the piles of pink onesies, sleepers, jumpers, and pacifiers, this baby most definitely will look like a girl. I've been just sitting and staring and organizing the baby clothes as I imagine what Little will look like, what she'll look the cutest in, and if all of the pink will clash with the red hair she might have... :)

  In week 24, babies are supposed to be a little over a pound, since they are gaining about 4 ounces a week at this point. We found out on Friday that Little was already weighing in at 1 pound 6 ounces. So, she's definitely getting her nutrients.  Most of her movements are now visible from the outside of my belly, and she generally likes to throw her biggest parties right as I lay down to go to sleep. Her little kicks and squirms are quite entertaining to watch, and for the first time in my life, I'm quite comfortable showing off my belly.

    I'm not lacking inspiration this week, just time. I'll catch up next week and share some of the precious pictures I've taken over the week. Apologies for my absence!

Pregnancy: Week 23.

As I sit here and think of what to say, I can't help but giggle at the distraction that's wiggling inside of me. Her movements have been getting stronger by the day, making my smiles get bigger by the minute.  The weeks are ticking by, the belly is growing, and the Victoria Secret catalogs are getting more and more discouraging as my articles of clothing continue to get tighter.

Besides the pesky ache up near my rib cage, which apparently is caused by everything expanding and stretching, at 23 weeks I feel great. Which I will take as a blessing.

As we continue on our merry way through the midsection of this pregnancy, it is only natural to assume we have picked out a name for our little one. We have certainly been asked this question lately, and I always feel like I am letting people down when I give them the answer...

No, sorry, we have not picked out a name yet. Honestly, we probably won't be able to decide on one completely until we meet Little for the first time - and even if we think we have fully decided on a name, we still probably won't spill the beans until she's born. We like to keep people guessing.

Don't get us wrong, we are contemplating names, have a list of our favorites on our refrigerator, and even give a few a test run while talking to Little through my belly. We are preparing, we have just come to the realization that we get to name a human. A human! And we will have to call this human by the name we pick for a very long time. Man, that's a big commitment, one that does not need to be taken lightly. :) At least that's how we see it.

For now we shall stick with Little. Little Tyson. :)

Pregnancy: Week 22.

 The weeks just seem to melt away. The little kicks are getting stronger, the belly is getting bigger, and nighttime heartburn has decided to bless me with its presence.

Now that we're past the halfway point, it is hard to believe how fast the time is flying by. As I look back, it is fun to remember all of the excitement and anticipation Justin and I experienced in the first trimester as we waited to hear Little's heartbeat at my first doctor's appointment, see her jump and wiggle on the ultrasound screen, and tell our friends and family about our new addition once we were drawing near to the 2nd trimester. As hard as it was to keep it to ourselves for several weeks, it was quite special keeping a secret so sweet just between us for a brief moment in time.  

  People have told me all along "enjoy it, because it'll be over before you know it!"  Turns out, they aren't kidding. So far, pregnancy has been pretty amazing. From the first glimpse of the little wiggle worm to feeling her kick, it is incredible that something human, something alive, something so amazing can be residing within my lower abdomen and in just a few months, I will be holding her in my arms.

  I've said it before, but I feel I must say it again, the best thing about pregnancy is feeling the baby move and being able to share that joy and excitement with your husband. It has been incredible how hard the kicks have become in the past couple of days and how excited my other half gets when he lays his head on the expanding bump and can identify the repetitious ninja kicks coning from inside. He giggles, laughs, and encourages Little to kick mommy harder next time! It is quite entertaining.  

  On another note, one thing I am truly grateful for during this pregnancy is Google. As the weeks fly by and I begin to realize at a greater extent than ever before: I'm quite clueless about newborns. Then the nervousness sets in and I become obsessive. I obsess over foods I can and cannot eat. So I can't eat parsley, but can I eat cilantro? Solution: Google it. Can stretch marks really be avoided or are they genetic? How big should I be at week # ___?  What is placenta encapsulation? Oh no! I missed a prenatal vitamin, what should I do? And from one of my biggest, quite humorous in retrospect, freakout moments- Is it going to hurt the fetus if I used Aloe Vera on my sunburn?

  It has definitely been a learning experience so far, this whole pregnancy thing. Our excitement grows daily, as does the oh-goodness-what-have-we-gotten-ourselves-into feeling. We have a lot to learn, but also realize that we have a lot of happiness to look forward to as well. For now, I enjoy the kicks, the belly, and the Tums that relieve the nighttime heartburn.  

Pregnancy: Week 21.

 I love every part of being pregnant. I love how my belly is beginning to become perfectly round. I love how Little's really starting to show her kung fu skills quite regularly and how my sweet husband is already so in love with her, too. Since the porch swing has been hung, we've been enjoying our evenings sitting and daydreaming and feeling for the thumps that indicate that Little may be hearing all of the big plans we have for her.

  This week, according to all of the baby articles I've read, Little should weigh almost 1 whole pound and measure 10.5 inches long - like a carrot :) I've gained approximately two pounds since my pre-pregnancy weigh-in but that doesn't keep me from needing everything maternity in the clothing department.

   Overall, I'm sleeping well - only waking up a few times at night to switch positions or use the bathroom. And my cravings as of recently include eggs, oranges, Special K, and oddly enough, sour cream. My favorite part of the past week has been seeing the look on my lovie's face when he spots me from the side and realizes the Little bump really is growing and that we are really having a baby. The realization has taken place at least weekly since I started to show. It's a glorious moment, always, as we continue to learn and grow, and make new realizations in preparing our home and family for a new wonderful addition.   

  

20 Weeks. Half way there!

Well, Little, we're half way there.

    We've hit the 20 week mark! Woo-hoo! So far, as measured by the doctor last Thursday, I have gained a total of 1 lb. ONE POUND.  This absolutely blows my mind, as I was terrified to step on the scales due to the fact that only stretchy pants and baggy shirts fit, and that belly - it wasn't there before. 

  This Friday I will have another ultrasound to check Little's growth, organs, and take another look at the due date to ensure accuracy. Hopefully we will get a couple good pictures to share with you, too. :)