out and about

Can I just start by saying how much I adore her frowny, old man face in the third photo. All the heart-eyes!! Seven and a half weeks of being a mom and I can now spout off all the cliched things about how much I love it and her and how life is different...yada, yada, yada. It's all true. I get it now.

This past week we were out and about a ton. I took her to a Little Gym class. Ridiculous for a 7 week old, I know, but it was cute. I thought it would be nice to meet other moms with babies the same age. It was also nice having an activity that wasn't grocery shopping. The class was for 6 week to 6 months and babies were all at the top of that range. She is still in the stage where she mainly eats and naps. She will do tummy time for like 5 seconds before she starts crying.

Then I went to a mom's group that I found in Plano. I really enjoyed it, as the babies were closer to Gemma's age and many of the mom's cloth diaper too. Being able to chat with people who are in a similar place in life is so important. I am excited to go back next week.

I'm still feeling my way through transitioning this blog. It was a style blog for so long and then I started posting bump pictures. Now, I am not sure what to do with it. I don't know how much of my life and my daughter's life I want on the internet. Yet, I find that holding back and watching what I say results in me sounding choppy and stilted. I don't know. I will just continue to figure it out as I go.

jeans: Motherhood maternity...still :( partially because they are comfortable and partially because I am not sure which box my normal jeans are packed in...up in the attic. 

top: Old Navy

kimono: Umagee (from Paperline Boutique)

boots: Target

#ftm

Okay, I admit that this post is a bit deceptive. In the past 5 weeks, I have put on a dress exactly 2 times. I am in my pajamas until noon, if not later most days. I can count on one hand the number of times lipstick has happened. I am not even sure I remember how to do my winged liner. So, I confess that this is not my normal look these days. Not brushing my hair and rumpled PJ's...that is my norm.

But I did actually get dressed in real clothes and I brushed and braided my hair and I left the house. This warranted a blog post. So, here I am all dressed up and heading to Target and the grocery store.

Honestly, I leave the house most days, just not in a dress. I try to run errands during one of her naps since she sleeps like a champ in the car or in her Ergo carrier. Jeremie and I take walks with her most days. Other than that, maternity leave is super chill. I think I am going to have a meltdown when I am back in the frantic pace of the classroom. It will be an adjustment for sure. But I am getting ahead of myself. For now, I am going to enjoy this time at home with my baby.

bump week 39

39 weeks 5 days here. I had issues uploading photos, which is why I am just now posting. Today, today I am actually 40+2. That's right, the due date came and went. No baby yet. I had my 40 week appointment and all is well. I don't know if I've even mentioned that I am planning to try to have an unmedicated, intervention free birth. Try being the operative word. With that being the plan my doctor says we will just wait for her to decide to come. She will schedule an induction at 42 weeks if baby hasn't come by that point.

That will be March 31st, but I am hoping she comes sooner. Up until the 40 week mark, I was all about her staying put and making it to the due date. But as soon as Friday came and went, I flipped. I'm ready for her to come. It's time.

Friday night I freaked out b/c I thought my belly button was turning into an "outie" This doesn't happen to every pregnant woman and so far my belly buttoin has stayed inside. But I've been really worried about it...does it just pop out like those thermometers in a turkey? Is it a gradual thing? I'm very weirded out by either possibility. Turns out it was a false alarm.

Then last night I thought I got my first stretch mark on my belly. I've been very lucky to not get any stretch marks on my stomach yet. Actually, from what I've read, I have my mom to thank for that...thanks Mom. I was getting ready for bed and thought I saw a few on the left side. Turns out they were just creases from laying on that side. She's not too big yet, they estimated 7 lbs 11 oz. If she stays put another 2 weeks and my belly keeps growing and stretching, stretch marks are inevitable.

I'll try to post again this week for the 40th week.

skirt: Old Navy

top: H&M Mama

cardi: J Crew

boots: Target

bump week 36

 36 weeks is no joke! More tired, more heavy, more uncomfortable, more swelling. That being said, baby and I are doing well. She's super active, kicking all the time. At my appointment this week, they estimated that she weighs around 6 lb 12 oz, which seems crazy. While I feel bigger this week, it just doesn't seem real that an almost 7 lb baby is in there. I don't feel big enough to be carrying a baby that big. My dad pointed out that I was born when my mom was 35 weeks, so I'd already be holding her if she came as early as I did. I am perfectly content to have her stay put and keep growing for a few more weeks.

I got to get dressed up this past weekend for my aunt's wedding. Dressed up these days means no compression socks and squeezing into these boots. You can see on my face that I am more tired and uncomfortable, but overall I feel good. It could be worse.

dress: Old Navy Maternity

kimono: Macy's

boots: Target

earrings: Target

bump week 35

Happy Valentine's Day...yesterday when I took these photos. Right now, we just got back from a belated Valentine's dinner. We decided to go the day after to avoid the crowds. We don't do too much, no gifts. We exchange cards and he gets me flowers. He gets me flowers fairly often though, because he's sweet and know I like them.

Each week I feel so huge and yet each week I/she gets bigger and bigger. Happy to say I am still feeling good. I continue to battle the dreaded cankles, but I think I've figured out how to keep the swelling under control. I'm still trying to walk more, drink water, and put my feet up. In addition, I've tried to cut back on salt a bit. Anyone who knows me, know that I am a salt monster, so this has been key. I've also gotten compression socks and tights. While unattractive, in combination with all the other measures, they do help keep the swelling from reaching monstrous proportions.

Starting next week, I begin going for weekly appointments and sonograms. I am not sure that everyone gets sonograms weekly at this point. I think it might be because I am considered "advanced maternal age" or "elderly." Seriously my records say elderly. Trucking it from Frisco to Dallas every week, rush hour both ways is not going to be fun, but I am excited to be getting so close.

 sweatshirt: H&M mama clearance

jeans: Motherhood Maternity

ankle boots: Tom's 

bump week 33

 dress: Old Navy maternity

sweater: Old Navy maternity

sash: David's Bridal

boots: Target

My last shower was in Houston this weekend. It was all family and I had such a great time celebrating baby with my aunts, parents, siblings, and cousins. It was yet another beautiful party and I was both amazed and humbled by the love put into each detail. My favorite part was when everyone shared a memory. Some of them had be in tears as my relatives are quite the comedians.

This week it feels as though someone has taken a bicycle pump and inflated me. The swelling, the belly...fun times :) Despite that, still feeling good, though my OB warned me that after week 32 "the party is over" for most pregnant women.

Now that the showers are over, it's time to finish setting up baby's room. And write thank you cards. And pack a hospital bag. And finalize my maternity leave. And plan for my substitute. Ugh! Long to-do lists are my nemesis.