The Beach addition!

THE WEEK

35 weeks

THE GENDER

girl.

name...still unknown

CRAVINGS

hmmm...we are on vacation so I ate so much but I cannot think of anything I was craving.

The first day we did eat at the Salty Dog cafe and I really wanted their chicken salad sandwich

I thought about that all week...I never got the sandwich.

SYMPTOMS

swelling has arrived with a vengence.

So...when our family travels to Hilton Head one thing we love to do it bike ride to Starbucks every morning.

Ever since we planned vacation it was always assumed I would not participate in this beloved tradition.

Well...We get there and I could not resist.

I was able to ride and it was glorious.

Not only was I so happy to get to participate but it was also therapeutic for me.

We would bike about 3 miles each way and afterward my hips would feel good and I was not stiff at all.

On the last day however I noticed my hands were going numb on the ride home.

Swollen hands and feet were quickly the result...and they have stuck around ever since.

Saturday we had to drive 12 hours home in the car...ohh the swelling.

Not fun.

 I also realized this past week that I think I am done being pregnant.

I am so excited to meet her that I am ready for her.

Only 4 more weeks...oh happy day!

WHAT NORAH IS SAYING

She is soo excited to take her sister to the beach next year. 

She would pretend like her baby sister was floating in the ring next to her when she was in the pool.

{most adorable thing ever!}

She wants to build sand castles with her and sleep in the same room with her.

PRAYERS

Praying for continued growth for our daughter since she is small.

I am also praying for this swelling in the ankles.

It came on so suddenly I want to keep a close eye on it and if the swelling does go away I would not be sad.

Week 34

THE WEEK

34 weeks

{I am a little late...we were on vacation and I forgot to blog...but week 34 was very important so I definitely wanted to document it.}

 

THE GENDER

A little sweet baby girl...no doubt about it anymore.

 

CRAVINGS

oranges and sushi

{but I think the sushi was because I had a sushi cooking class so it was on the brain!}

SYMPTOMS

ohh the belly.

I am also noticing that I am a lot more tired and would prefer not to do too much.

 

WHAT NORAH IS SAYING

We had an ultrasound this week and Norah was sad she missed it.

She said, "mom, next time you get to go see my baby sister on the big tv please don't leave me at home."

PRAYERS/PRAISES

Yes...we did have an ultrasound this week.

No...it was not planned.

At my doctors appointment on Thursday the doctor said I was measuring small.

This bit of information was not news to me.

I was actually surprised that I have been measuring correctly up until this point because I have always felt as though I was a little smaller than I should be.

So...sure enough at 34 weeks I was measuring 31 weeks.

He suggests and ultrasound then says, "don't worry most women just need to go on bedrest."

WHY DO DOCTORS HAVE TO SAY STUFF LIKE THIS BEFORE THEY EVEN INVESTIGATE!

Anyway...

so that was Thursday morning and we were leaving on vacation for a week on Friday night.

They got me in at 7:40 Friday morning.

Oh course the doctor does not say the possibilities of what could be wrong so my mind begins to wander to all of the possible circumstances I can remember from the OB class I took in nursing school a year ago.

Needless to say I was grateful for Friday morning to arrive.

My mom goes with me and we get a peek at our little girl.

And...that was just it, she is little!

Everything looked great.

There was enough fluid, she was proportionate in size.

Norah was little so I was not surprised to hear she will probably be around 7 lbs.

Right now they said she was measuring around 4 lbs. 12 ounces.

What a relief.

It was fun to get a little peek at her again.

She looked to have chubby cheeks that will rival her big sisters.

The technician said she has tons of hair.

After seeing her it made me even more excited to meet her.

I cannot wait to hold her and love her.

Only 5 weeks.  whoohooo!

Week 33

THE WEEK

33 weeks...holy moly.

 

THE GENDER

girl

 

CRAVINGS

hmmm....soda.  All kinds of soda.

SYMPTOMS

continued trouble sleeping.

I am also to the point where I do not move anywhere fast.

I feel as though it takes me forever to get from place to place.

This week was also full of nesting.

I worked so hard on Norah's new room.

The goal was met.

Norah is moved into her new room.

Some baby clothes have been found, cleaned, folded, and placed in the baby room.

Bottles were found {still need to be washed}

But...things are getting done.

For my birthday, which was Wednesday, my family came over and helped finish Norah's room on Wednesday and move all furniture all over the house on Thursday.

Truly the best birthday gift my family could give me.

Joe and I needed the help and acts of service is definitely speaking my love language.

I was also given a Kindle Fire from Andrea and Dave and I absolutely love it.

I never even knew I would want one...but I love it!

WHAT NORAH IS SAYING

She is still super excited about the baby.

She even leans over my belly and says, 

"baby can you hear me...I love you!"  -so precious.

She also is so excited about her new room. YES!

 

PRAYERS

Praying for rest these last few weeks.

I worked so endlessly hard this week I would like to really rest and be patient for her arrival.

I am so excited to meet her!

Norah's new room!

For the past few weeks my family and I have been working tiredlessly on getting Norah's new room finished.  I think I have been nesting big time so I have been crazy about getting her room done.  Well last night...it finally was finished and she even moved in!!!

I knew I wanted to do some faux wainscoting on the walls.  I searched and searched for the right wood and could not find it so my dad had to cut each piece to be the measurement I wanted.  He is the best.  I also did not realize that I picked the only room in the house that does not have JUST 4 walls.  I had to pick the room that has many corners in it!!  Joe and my dad are true champs because they did not complain and let me go along with my crazy plan despite all the extra effort it took them!

The first thing I did is measure out on the wall what each section would look like.  This provided a template for the wall color as well as for where to put the wood.

We painted the top color first-purple.  Norahs pick.  Then I painted the squares that would not be covered by the wood on the bottom white.  
We then used a nail gun {one of my favorite things} to put all the wood up.  It was a long process with many steps.  I could not have done this without the help of Joe and my dad.  So pleased with the finished look!

She loves her room...and it gives her soo much more room to play!

Week 32

THE WEEK

Week 32

All week long I thought it was week 31 so it was a nice surprise that I was actually an entire week ahead.

Also...We scheduled the c-section so we know this little lady will be here on 

Wednesday June 20th!

THE GENDER

girl...name still miserably unknown.

 

CRAVINGS

At Youth group last Wednesday night for snack we had Chick-fila.

We were able to take home a gallon of their sweet tea.

I had never had this before...but I was craving it and drank the entire gallon.

{why do I crave things pregnant people should not be eating/drinking?!}

Also...craving granola.

I eat huge bowls of it...often!

 

SYMPTOMS

The phase of unsettled sleep in upon me.

For weeks and weeks and weeks I have not been able to turn over in bed without being woken up by pain...but this week-I cannot sleep.

I am uncomfortable.
My belly is now big enough that it lays against the mattress when I am on my side and it hurts.  

So I sleep with endless amounts of pillows.

tucked here there and everywhere!

WHAT NORAH IS SAYING

Oh....she is sooo excited now to have a baby sister.

She cannot wait to get her christmas pictures taken with her.

{weird I know!}

Norah...is awesome and will be an amazing big sister.

She will also learn how to share...excited about that!

 

PRAYERS

Really just praying for the last weeks of this pregnancy.

I am not miserable yet...so very thankful for that!

I am also rejoicing in the fact that I feel as though I have been feeling better than I have for most of the pregnancy thus far.

I have been working really hard on getting Norah's new room finished.

It has been a ton of up and down, priming, painting, nailing, measuring...lots of work.

I am always exhausted at the end of the day...but glad to be able to do the work.

I have a huge goal though...we leave on vacation in a little over a week.

I want to have Norah's new room done, the nursery all put together. 

Baby stuff organized and baby clothes all clean and put away.

We will see!  

Thanks for reading!

Week 31

THE WEEK

week 31

 

THE GENDER/NAME

Girl.

Name: we seriously have no clue.

I wish we did...I think I would shout it from the rooftops if we did!

I cannot wait to meet this little lady...but I also cannot wait to name this lady as well.

We are thinking day and night.  

 

CRAVINGS

everything bad for me.

This week I really wanted a chicken salad sandwich.

I ate one..it was good!

SYMPTOMS

big big belly.

It is starting to really get in the way.

Sleeping has become uncomfortable.

 

WHAT NORAH IS SAYING

On Saturday night we were at a party and there was a little 3 month old girl there.

Norah was soooo cute with her.

She kept wanting to kiss her, touch her face, and love her.

It gave me hope.

Maybe she is all talk and she actually will be soft and sweet with her.

 

PRAYERS

Praying this week for continued development and growth.

As much as I do not like the size of my belly, it is a great sign to know that she is growing.

I LOVE HER SO MUCH ALREADY!

I CANNOT WAIT TO MEET HER!