This Unfamiliar Road

May 31, 2012

38 Weeks

Today, I am 38 weeks and 3 days pregnant. Part of me cannot believe that we are already here-so close to meeting our little Junebug. But there are times that I think, how am I still pregnant?! I feel so blessed by this miracle!

We saw a midwife today-here is our update: I am now 2cm dilated and 70% effaced and that little head is moving down! Woo-hoo! Our CNM said we have "a good-sized baby" but we shouldn't really worry about a giant baby at this point. If I wanted to be induced next week, it would probably work out very well since my body is already sitting on go-ready for baby! In the meantime, operation induce-labor-naturally has begun!

38 Week Stats:

Size: Pumpkin! (Around 19 inches and 6-9 pounds)

New Development: Starting to lose the vernix from the skin. Bug might have an inch of hair by now (or more...based on my heartburn!)

Symptoms: I really thought I would be totally over it by now but I have to say that I still feel good overall! Work, however, is a different story. A 13 hour shift on your feet is exhausting to anyone, but it's very demanding on a pregnant body. I'm still making it though- 4 more scheduled shifts!

What I'm looking forward to: Baby :)

# Junebug

May 28, 2012

Gender Reveal

Andrea 9:11 PM 1 Comments

I almost tricked you, huh?

No, we still don't know the gender of our little bug! Ever since we learned that we were pregnant, and confirmed that we did not want to find out the gender, I have been entertained by all of the Old Wives' Tales surrounding this big mystery.
So, here is what the tales reveal about baby's gender:

1. The Highs & Lows- Belly: If you are carrying high-it's a girl; Low-it's a boy! Most everyone tells me that I am carrying low. So 1 point for Team Blue.

2. Heart Rate- A heart rate of 140 or above= girl; Below 140= boy. Junebug's heart rate has always been in the 150-160s. 1 point for Team Pink.

3. Sweet and Sour- If you are craving sweet stuff, it's a girl. If your cravings are for salty and sour, it's a boy. I am usually a sweets person, but during this pregnancy, I go for all things salty! That's 1 point for Team Blue.

4. Chinese Birth Chart- An ancient birth chart that uses mother's age & month of conception. According to this, we have 1 point for Team Pink.

5. Drano Test- This one is a little strange, and I wasn't going to try it, but for the sake of equality (and a complete blog post), I tried it. Pee in a cup and mix in 1 Tbsp of Drano. Watch for color change. Green=girl; Blue= Boy. Mine was difficult to tell, but I would say it turned more green-ish. 1 point for Team Pink.

6. Even & Odd- This one comes from the Mayans. We look at mother's age at conception, and year of conception. If both are even or odd, it's a girl; If one is even and one is odd, it's a boy. 1 point for Team Pink.

7. The Key- Place a key in front of the Momma-to-be. If she picks it up by the narrow part-girl. If she picks it up by the round part, that's boy. Well, 1 point for Team Pink.

8. Skin- If you are breaking out like crazy, the tale says to blame it on a girl-she "steals" her mother's beauty. At first, my skin looked like a teenager's, but has cleared up quite a bit. Still, overall I would have to give 1 point for Team Pink.

9. Wedding Ring- Tie your wedding ring to a string and hang it over your belly. If it swings back and forth, it's a girl. If it swings in a circle, it's a boy. Mine swung back and forth for sure...that's 1 point for Team Pink.

10. Morning Sickness- If you had/have a lot of nausea during pregnancy, signs point to a girl. Little or no nausea=boy. Definitely 1 point for Team Blue.

Wow! It's looking like girl all the way!

The one thing that this article didn't mention was mother-to-be intuition. I have said from day one (literally...the day I discovered we were expecting) that I think there is a boy in there. I guess we will have to wait and see...2 more weeks(ish)

May 25, 2012

All Our Bags are Packed

Andrea 8:00 AM 2 Comments

We are all packed and ready to go to the hospital when the time comes! Ben hopes I will just go into labor at the end of a shift, call him and calmly say, "Hey, I'm headed downstairs to labor & delivery. Grab the bags and meet me here." Keep dreaming babe...

As a postpartum nurse, I see a wide range of preparation for the hospital stay. Some of my patients come in with enough luggage and supplies to backpack across Europe; Some are asking me for soap. Although I [obviously] haven't experienced labor/postpartum first-hand, I have a pretty good idea of what is helpful (and what is completely unnecessary) during those days at the hospital.

Mustang thinks she is tagging along!

**This is based on my knowledge of my own hospital-be sure to take a tour of your hospital to find out exactly what you need**

What I packed (besides the obvious-clothes, toiletries, etc)

Maternity clothes- Some comfy tops and bottoms-mostly stretchy cotton. After delivery, *most* women look about 5-6 months pregnant still. It takes time for the uterus to shrink and go back to where it belongs! I have seen some women wearing jeans and other constrictive clothing and it just seems uncomfortable! Loose-fitting and breathable is best.

Towels- Yes, the hospital will provide towels. But I have seen what I do with those towels...let's just say I don't want to be wiping my face with them. I packed my own.

Snacks- During labor, eating is a no-no. BUT-in the postpartum period, my patients are always hungry. The hospital serves 3 meals a day, and we do have snacks available in between. But graham crackers get old. Especially for a breastfeeding Mom, it is important to keep up that caloric intake-EAT!

Ibuprofen- NOT FOR MOMMY! Never ever ever take your own meds from home while you are in the hospital unless it has been approved by your providers and your nurse knows about it! The ibuprofen I am packing is for Daddy-to-be. I have so many new Dads ask me for an Advil (stress, lack of sleep, uncomfortable 'bed', etc) and I can't just give out meds to anyone. Bring your own for Dad, or be prepared to go buy some!

Baby items- I have just a couple of baby outfits packed, including the 'going home' outfit! Most hospitals have diapers, formula, pacifiers, wipes, blankets, and tshirts for babies. Of course, most of my Moms are SO excited to start dressing their little one in the extensive wardrobe they have been preparing for months. The way I see it- this will probably be the only time that someone else has all the baby stuff-take advantage. Of course, we have the carseat in the car, installed properly! :)

Our going home outfits-wonder which one we will be bringing bug home in?!

Insurance Information- It is always best to pre-register with the hospital so you can take care of all of this before you are contracting every 5 minutes. I am bringing my info (along with my short-term leave info) with me just in case! And please...bring a pen!

*What made your hospital stay better? Anything I should add to the list?

# Junebug # Products

May 24, 2012

37 Weeks

Andrea 8:50 PM 0 Comments

Update from doctor this week: I am still 1cm dilated and now 50% effaced but the head has not dropped yet. We are still head down, just not engaged in the pelvis. There are a few things that could cause this:
-Junebug is just not ready...usually the head drops around 38 weeks
-Junebug is really big (great)
-Junebug is in a weird position
I have been asking all of my coworkers for advice on how to get a baby into position, so swimming, pelvic tilts, and a yoga ball...here I come!

37 Week Stats:

Size: Winter squash...the doctor estimated about 7.5 pounds right now

New Development: Lots of practice with suck, swallow, breathing (hiccups, anyone?)

Symptoms: I have trouble putting on my own pants...I'm a mess. I have really enjoyed the pool lately (until I have to get out and realize I am not, in fact, weightless).

What I'm looking forward to: Final touches to the nursery, then completely done!

I took this one from the front so you can read the shirt :)

**Please excuse my appearance-I worked today**

# Junebug

May 22, 2012

Nursery Mural

Andrea 8:00 AM 2 Comments

I am SO excited to reveal our nursery mural. Remember that blank space between the crib and the dresser?

I have a very talented friend, Alyssa, who agreed to help us bring this space to life!

This was my inspiration:

Alyssa was a little nervous about painting a mural because she had never done one before. I just love her canvas paintings, and had faith that she could pull it off!

She had this great idea to project the image on the wall so she could get an idea of correct sizing and scale. Alyssa still free-handed the entire mural, but this gave her a guideline to work with since she had never worked on a 'canvas' this large!

Projected image:

Of course, Rowen had to be in the middle of it all

Artist at work

Partial

I like to call it 'whimsical'

We found these shelves at Ikea-it is actually a picture ledge that we flipped upside down

We Ben painted them the same color as the tree trunk

FINISHED!

I just love how it turned out, and I think it looks even better than my inspiration picture! I am still experimenting with pictures and other items that will go on the shelves-I will decide before the final nursery reveal!

Thank you SO much, Alyssa, for taking the time to do this for us. It means so much to me, and I just know Junebug will love it :)

# Friends # Home Improvement

May 21, 2012

My Work Shower

Andrea 9:41 AM 0 Comments

My coworkers have been SO supportive and helpful during my pregnancy. When you spend so much time with the same people, they truly become family, and I don't know what I would do without my work family! They are all so excited for Junebug to arrive!

The ladies threw me a beautiful shower, and in addition to many individual gifts, they all contributed to a group gift- our Pack 'n Play, extra car seat base, plus a gift card with leftover money! WOW-Ben and I feel so blessed and loved!

Hostesses-Dawn & Kim

We had quite the food spread-I loved the cake!

This is what you get with a party at the hospital.

Notice the medicine cup scoop? I love it

Ben couldn't wait to try out our Baby Bjorn. Doesn't he look excited?

(that's a doll in there!)

Don't I have the best coworkers?! For anyone wondering, yes I plan to deliver at the hospital where I work, and no I don't think it will be awkward at all. I truly believe that my hospital provides the best care ever, and I wouldn't dream of going anywhere else. Plus, wouldn't you want to be surrounded by your family for such a huge life event?!

# Family # Friends

May 18, 2012

Our Anniversary

Andrea 9:23 AM 0 Comments

Can you believe it's been two years since we said "I Do"?!

It amazes me how quickly time passes, and I know it's only going to speed up from here! This year, Ben planned a wonderful two days of fun! He was so great to plan it all, because honestly, folks-I don't have the energy for anything 'extra' right now!

On Monday night, we went to our favorite date night restaurant The Melting Pot. We used to go here annually for our [dating] anniversary but haven't been in a few years! The food was fabulous, as usual, and we both waddled out of there with very full bellies.

Enjoying our chocolate fondue!

On Tuesday (our actual anniversary), we spent the morning working on projects around the house, then headed to Atlanta for a fun afternoon & evening!

We "dined" at The Varsity for the 3rd year in a row! Read here to learn about this unique tradition!

Same meal, Same Room :)

Junebug's first Varsity meal!

Ben and The Frosty Orange (a must have)

After dinner, we headed to Turner Field to see our Braves play ball! We had AMAZING seats, and the weather was perfect. Aaaaand they won the game!

Look how close we are!

Happy Anniversary to us :)

The dugout

What a great way to celebrate our two years of marriage. I am so excited to see where the future takes us!

# Date Night # Milestones

May 15, 2012

36 Weeks

Andrea 1:52 PM 0 Comments

I went to the doctor yesterday (we are now going weekly-yikes!) and I am 1cm dilated and 30% effaced. The little head is still down and engaged in the pelvis! I'm happy with this progress because I hope it means that my body is progressing the way it should. Most of my coworkers don't think I will make it past 38 weeks. I would love to make it at least 39 weeks, but I would be happy just getting to June. I feel like I would not have accomplished my goal if I deliver before then, even if little bug is full term. We will see...

36 Week Stats:

Size: Honeydew (around 18.7 inches and 6 pounds)

New Development: Everything is pretty much in working order! At the hospital, we call babies who are born at 36 weeks "late preterm" -they need a little more attention but overall, healthy babies!

Symptoms: I am almost over it. Rowen follows me around *everywhere* just staring at me. I think she knows something I don't. I also discovered stretch marks on my belly this week. Bummer

What I'm looking forward to: Still a few loose ends, then ready for baby!

Wow-the belly is out of control

# Junebug

May 10, 2012

A Few of my Favorite Things {Pregnancy Edition}

Andrea 9:00 AM 1 Comments

I have really enjoyed being pregnant-every single minute of it (thus far!). Sure, I've had some common discomforts of pregnancy, but what a small sacrifice to pay for this miracle growing inside of me!
Here are a few things I have come to love during my pregnancy:

~Boppy Prenatal Total Body Pillow I received this as a Christmas gift from the hubby, and it has been with us ever since! Early in my pregnancy, I had pretty significant back pain, so it was perfect! Now...it helps to support my belly.

~The Mommy's Helper Foot Rest I don't have a ledge in my shower to support my foot while shaving my legs. As the bump grew, it became harder and harder to lean over, and I was afraid I would fall in the shower! This little foot rest suctions to the wall and provides the perfect amount of support!

~Old Navy Maternity I love the fit of their pants, and the panels aren't too tight over the belly. Their tops and dresses are super cute, too! All for a reasonable price.

~ Bio Oil Stretch marks are known to be genetic: If your mom got stretch marks during pregnancy (or if you were lucky enough to get them during puberty) you will probably have them during pregnancy. However, I can't help but feel a little better when I put my BioOil on...I am trying to do something to prevent them!

~ Jobst Compression Stockings OK, I'm not trying to make a fashion statement with these. One of my most uncomfortable pregnancy symptoms has been ankle/foot swelling. Most often, it happened when I was at work (13 hours on my feet?) and now, my feet swell if I'm at home cleaning house or running errands. My hospital allows 2 free pairs of these a year for employees (with a RX) and they are amazing! My legs feel so much better, and I can actually feel my circulation improve when I put them on!

~ Tums Smoothies I know it seems silly to add to the list, but I have lived off of these things for weeks...this heartburn is out of control. The smoothies taste the best!

# Products

May 09, 2012

35 Weeks

Andrea 1:35 PM 0 Comments

I have been so behind on weekly posts, but I have a good reason! You will see very soon :)

35 Week Stats:

Size: Coconut (about 18.7 inches and 5.8 pounds)

New Development: Hearing is fully developed, responding best to high-pitched noises. At this point, Junebug won't get a lot longer-just packing on the pounds!

Symptoms: I am incredibly uncomfortable at night-I almost delay going to bed because I know it will be a battle. Very worn down in general-but still loving it all (promise!).

What I'm looking forward to: Finishing up the nursery and other loose ends.

# Junebug

May 08, 2012

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Andrea 9:00 AM 3 Comments

Ben has put a lot of energy and time into our front flower beds this spring. I wish I could have helped more, but I'm not supposed to be playing in the dirt (chemicals and cow feces I guess...) and strenuous activities are a little limited for me these days. I did a lot of supervising and making sure the hubby stayed hydrated :)

Remember back in the fall when our beds were all overgrown and looking pitiful? This is what Ben did to improve them. Our spring plans were to remove bushes that blocked our home and add some color!

This tree has got to go!

(We did try to salvage it, but the roots were very deep)

WOW-a window was behind that tree!

We've added a row of Indian Hawthorne shrubs

(They mature to about 4ft tall and 3ft wide)

Next, Ben tackled the evergreens on either side of the front door.

"This thing was a beast"

Oh look! We have a front door!

(Left bed)

A row of Gazanias (annual)

Front row of Celosias (a FUN annual!)

Cluster of Daylily (3 on the left)

**We plan on getting a bench for the space between the Indian Hawthorne and the annuals!

We had some leftover so we planted them in the small bed next to the garage

A close-up of the Celosias-aren't they fun?!

Then, Ben removed the 4 large bushes blocking this window!

In the back: a row of Gardenias (Mature to 4ft tall)

In front: a row of Azaleas (Mature to 3 ft tall)

**Future plans: add a specimen tree to the corner of this bed, then line the front with monkey grass and additional color!

Ben also created a bed around our mailbox

We have clusters of Marigolds and Petunias

Back row of Silver Dust plants

Notice the orange & white checkerboard? ;)

Overall, the new shrubs and plants have a lot of maturing to do, so our beds still look a little bare, but I LOVE that I can actually see the front of my house right now!

When we moved in:

Fall Project: Reshape/clean beds and mulch

Spring Project: Remove bushes and add color!

I think Ben did a great job, and I can't wait to watch our little garden grow!

# Home Improvement # New house

This Unfamiliar Road

May 31, 2012

38 Weeks

May 28, 2012

Gender Reveal

May 25, 2012

All Our Bags are Packed

May 24, 2012

37 Weeks

May 22, 2012

Nursery Mural

May 21, 2012

My Work Shower

May 18, 2012

Our Anniversary

May 15, 2012

36 Weeks

May 10, 2012

A Few of my Favorite Things {Pregnancy Edition}

May 09, 2012

35 Weeks

May 08, 2012

How Does Your Garden Grow?

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