New/Expectant Mom Essentials

I have been working on this post for months now, and I know you can find a million and one of these lists on any number of websites all over the internet. So, sorry, but this post is here by request of my sister Whitney. She knew I had been trying tons of different things and that I was sort of a minimalist and would give realistic recommendations that would work for her whenever she decided to add to their little family of husband, wife and pup.

So I have tried to make this very simple and categorize things by topic. These products are all tried and tested and proved honorable! According to me. Every mom and baby is different and will find what works for them. So take this however you want.

Stretch Mark Prevention
-Bio oil
-Burts Bees mama bee belly butter
-Vitamin E
also...WATER!

I basically had no hope of not getting stretch marks, as I am prone genetically. I got them as a 12 year old on my hips when I grew 4 inches in 7 months. So I was positive I was going to be covered in them when pregnant, unless I took drastic action.

I got a bottle of vitamin E pills from Walmart as soon as I learned I was expecting. I took 2 a day my entire pregnancy. This helps the elasticity of your skin, important if you want your skin to be able to stretch without ripping.

Drinking water is probably the number one best thing you can do to prevent stretch marks, (though nothing can stop genetics) as it hydrates you skin which help it regenerate and be elastic.

I ordered the belly butter and bio oil on amazon after hearing and reading phenomenal things. I applied the butter every morning (because it soaked in fast so I didn't have to worry about getting dressed right after) and the oil every night. Make sure you apply it all over! I didn't apply it on my bottom and hips because I didn't think those places had to stretch much for some reason. You think as an anatomy and physiology teacher I would have been smarter. I ended up with a few marks there because I started applying it too late.

Preparation for Labor 
Evening primrose oil: This is a pill in gel form that softens the cervix. Take it by mouth and/or poke a hole in the casing and insert vaginally starting a few weeks before your due date. You can also squeeze the oil out and rub on the perineum to help with tearing.
Squats: helps strengthen the muscles down there, and later in pregnancy it can help start labor - they helped get me started.

Postpartum Care (for vaginal delivery)
Tucks- little round thin pads soaked in witch hazel, come in a small little round tub. Give beautiful relief after tearing. The hospital gave these to me, but I also bought more at Walmart. They are a dream come true. I used them for about a week.
Also, stool softeners. But they're a given. Take them. Enough said.

The hospital also gives you (or at least they gave me) two different kinds of numbing stuff (a spray and a gel) that help a ton. They also give you squirt bottle -it will be your best friend - use it.

And don't worry, you don't have to use these things for ever. You only ever hear the horror stories of delivery, and postpartum care, but its not always bad. I only bled for about 12 days and it was just light occasional spotting after the first few days. Yes, your sore for a while but I managed my pain with ibuprofen and only had to take it for a week. (For reference, I had a second degree tear, but I actually tore in 3 places, and it took them an hour to stitch me up.)

Nursing:
-Lanolin: Soothes sore and cracked nipples. The hospital gave me a little tube and when we went home Kelly went to Target with the tube and showed it to a worker and asked here he could find more. I swear by it.
-Lansinoh cold/hot packs: a DREAM for engorgement starts when your milk comes in (stick them in the freezer). They have little soft covers that clip into a circle and fit into your bra. You can also microwave them and use for mastitis.
-------> Story: When my milk came in, Kelly went to Target. Once he found the breastfeeding isle, he bought basically everything he could find to help me be comfortable. He came home with tons of stuff. Some of it I didn't need and returned, but I tried most of it. I honestly was blessed and had/have a really easy time with breastfeeding but you can't help getting engorged in the beginning and there are things that can make you comfortable.
-Boppy or other nursing pillow you like. I really like the Boppy. Its big and supportive and Lyla can sit in it too and be propped up.

Travel:
-Baby carrier you like, I love the sling but I also made my own wrap and I love it, too.
-Any stroller you love: I require a jogging stroller because the big wheels allow me to go anywhere I want and I can still go for runs. In the two months since she has been born I have taken that sucker to farms, parks, stores, everywhere. It allows me so much freedom. I don't have a car during the day but the stroller (and the location of our home) makes it no I am not stuck.

Diapering: Find diapers you like, not much to say here. I have tried three different brands because I had them all as gifts from a baby shower. I prefer Huggies little snugglers as she has a tiny waist and skinny legs and these hold everything in. They also have a band a the top in the back that keeps the blowouts from going up her back.

Butt paste: Desitin does NOT work on Lylas little bum. She got a diaper rash pretty early and we were sing the desitin a ton to no avail. Butt paste is better, BUT make sure to get the "natural" one (green tube instead of yellow) instead of the regular one (only about 80 cents more) because the regular one has boric acid in it - bad  for babies and their skin.

Well I think that's all I've got. There are other products I could talk about but these are the ones that I really needed early on and helped me make the transition from pregnant teacher and wife to stay-at-home momma.

What products would you add from your experience?

Lyla May: A Birth Story

Birth. Such a huge event with so many ideas, preconceptions and fears packed into one tiny little word. Everyone has ideas of what it will be like. And everyone has their fears about it. I had plenty that I was afraid of facing. But like most things in life,  it was different than I expected in some ways, met my expectations in some, and was far better in others. And in every way, it was beautiful - in all its cliche-ness. I had heard about how great and beautiful birth is despite being painful, hard and long. But I never could truly understand what that meant until I experienced it for myself.

Wednesday September 3rd

I had a really hard time noticing if I was having Braxton Hicks for this whole pregnancy. People always asked if I was having them and I said "no, well probably, but nothing I notice." Well I finally began to notice them the last week when I would walk. So I increased my daily walk of 3-4 miles to 5 miles in hopes of maybe getting things started. 

So I started my day off like normal by walking 5 miles at the park nearby, and I did feel lots of Braxton Hicks, which I took as a good sign. Late Wednesday in the middle of the night I woke up to go pee, surprise surprise. When I woke up I realized I hurt and for a second I wondered what was going on. Then I finally seemed to grasp, I'm having contractions! They were not that horrible yet and they weren't that close together (about 10 minutes) so I was able to sleep on and off that night, but they got worse as morning got closer.  

Thursday September 4th

When Kelly woke up for work I told him I had been having contractions and he got all excited and asked if he should stay home from work to wait for me to be ready to go to the hospital.  I told him no, and that I didn't think she would come till Saturday (her due date) or Sunday. 

 I had an appointment at my midwives' office at 9:30 that morning. I was still having contractions on and off, and they were hurting more and more each time. At my appointment I learned I was dilated to 3cm and 80% effaced. She said my baby could come any time, but that because this was my first baby it could potentially take up to a week to progress from where I was (though she doubted it would). I was in serious pain in my back from my current contractions so prayed and prayed and prayed that this wasn't going to last a week. She told me my baby felt big, just over 8 pounds. That made me nervous because Lindsey, one of the other midwives I had seen a week or two earlier, told me her guess was that she would be right around 7 1/2 pounds when she was born. So obviously I hoped she was right.

39 weeks 5 days: The day before her birth - had contractions all day

I went home and did NOT go for a walk, because I was in pain already. But I did go to Winco to get random little things to make sure the house was stocked for when I had the baby and had no time or energy to go to the store. Shopping may have been a bad idea, though, as I was having contractions all over that place. So when I got home I sat down on the couch and did basically nothing all day. My contractions were super painful now. I had to get on all fours to deal with the pain. I couldn't be on my back, because thats where all the pain was, and sitting created too much pressure. They were sporadic still, though. Anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour apart. But they. were. awful. I was getting really afraid of having to endure this for days. I was sure I would die if I had to. 

I eventually tried to take a nap, because I was sleep deprived from the night before. During my nap I did not have one single contraction, which was happy and sad at the same time. I wanted things to progress so she could be here, but I also enjoyed the break from the pain. Once I got up they immediately started again and began getting closer together. I finally looked up on the internet why contractions hurt your back so bad and I learned that I was experiencing "back labor" where all the pain of contractions is felt in the back instead of in the stomach. They don't know why it happens for sure (most say that it could be the position of the baby, but they don't really have much proof), but every article says its the worst kind of labor. I readily agreed, but then realized any kind of labor is going to  be the worst, really. So I bore on, and continued to be on the floor on all fours all day until I picked Kelly up from work at 8:30 that night. That was some drive. Contractions decided to come full force while driving on I-215, and that's something I'm not anxious to repeat. 

I figured they would go away once I went to bed, since they disappeared during my nap earlier that day. But laying down was no help this time. There was so much pressure that I had to pee about every 7 seconds, and getting up triggered a contraction. Sitting down on the toilet triggered a contraction. Getting up from the toilet triggered a contraction. Get the idea?

At about 11:30pm they switched from being about 6-8 minutes apart to 2 minutes apart. I had decided I would let them be that way for an hour before we went to the hospital because I didn't want to get there only to have them send me away. But I only got through about 15 minutes of that. Kelly couldn't stand seeing me cry through 90 second contractions, and I couldn't handle the pain. I wanted that epidural, and I wanted it now.

Kelly ran around like crazy gathering things for the hospital. We had bags packed, but needed the random little things thrown in. Once we got in the car they seemed to only get closer. We got to the hospital just after midnight. 

Early Friday Morning, September 5th 

When we got to Labor and Delivery they asked if this was my first baby and I just nodded. I couldn't say anything because I was in the middle of another contraction, so I stood there, clutching two pillows to my chest, bent over at the waist, trying to keep breathing. The lady looked at me like I was being dramatic, and I am sure I was, but I  had never been in this kind of pain before and had no idea how to cope. They must have believed me at least a little bit, as they put me in a birthing suite straight away, instead of in triage. When my nurse Sara checked me she said I was dilated to 4+ cm and she seemed pleasantly surprised. She saw I was in pain and left the room really fast. I didn't think that was a good sign, but when she came she told me she got me admitted (12:12am) and she was going to get me that epidural right away. I could have kissed her!

Sadly, it took 5 attempts to get my IV in, which was weird as no one has ever missed a vein on me. But I guess the veins in my hands were rolling (and now both of them are green from days old bruising). But eventually they got it in, and the anesthesiologist was right behind them. I was nervous about getting a huge needle stuck in my spine but not as nervous as I felt about dealing with this pain for who knows how long. I didn't leave him much time to work because contractions were still so close together, so he did it in phases, in between contractions. Once it kicked in, I felt like celebrating. Kelly relaxed because for the first time in hours, I could carry on a conversation and even smile. This meant Kelly could get some rest, too.

My midwife Lindsey got there as I was getting my epidural. She had an extremely calming effect on both Kelly and I. I could tell he relaxed  as much as I did when she arrived and starting talking me through things. She checked me again, and I was now at 5cm. She said she couldn't tell for sure how soon the baby would come, but that there was a small chance she could arrive by 7am. Thats when her shift ended and I really wanted it to happen fast, mostly so I didn't have to go through a changing of the guard in the morning. They baby was already at a station 0, almost +1, so she went ahead and broke my water then, too.

From 1:00-3:30am I slept, which was a miracle. They left the lights dimmed real low and turned the heat up for me because for some reason I was absolutely freezing. They put three heated blankets on me and I was still shivering the whole time. When I got checked again at 3:30am I was at 8cm. By 4:30am I kind of felt like pushing, but couldn't yet. I tested positive for group B strep so I needed to be on penicillin during labor. I needed to get two IV bags in before she was born and you can only get a bag every 4 hours, so they were just giving me the second bag. So I had to hold off on pushing. Once I got all the penicillin they checked again, and sure enough I was at 10cm. 

And then Lindsey told me the baby was coming and we were going to do a practice push. I was surprised, for some reason. I thought things would  be different at this stage of the game. With no experience with birth, I pictured some bright scene with my legs in stirrups and people shouting orders, but it was strangely intimate. It was dark and warm, with my midwife at the foot of my bed, my nurse Sara on my right, and Kelly on my left. Sara coached me through pushing, and positions, and after the practice she was already crowning. I started pushing at 5:45am and things seemed to be going really well, until all the sudden I was positive I was going to vomit. I had been nauseous on and off since I got to the hospital. Sara kept asking if I wanted the nausea meds but as I had not even vomited one time in this whole pregnancy I kept saying I wouldn't need them. Then all of a sudden I'm having hot flashes and sweating profusely. Lindsey turned down the heat since everyone else was already burning up because of how hot it was, and Sara is holding the barf bag and I am definitely using it. Luckily there wasn't much in me. The last time I had eaten was around 6pm and all I had in the hospital since then was flavored ice chips to chew on (which were surprisingly good...?) but I had plenty of dry heaving to do once I got the ice out. And then I accepted the meds.

And then I was pushing again, and Kelly kept saying "her head is cute, she has a little hair, (we both expected a very bald baby) come on babe, she's so close!" and then she was out, and on my chest, and her cord was pulsating, and she was pooping and peeing on the blanket on top of me in the dim lit birthing suite with my husband, midwife and nurse, and all was well in the world.

My nurse Sara on the left and my midwife Lindsey on the right

-------------------------------------------

She was born September 5th at 6:12am - exactly 6 hours after we were admitted, and weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces. Exactly as Lindsey had predicted a few weeks earlier. She was perfectly healthy and alert, and very strong. And luckily for me, she was born before 7am, so Sara and Lindsey were there for all of it. They were both so supportive, helpful, knowledgeable and kind. They made sure to let me know I was so blessed to have a such a fast labor, and to only have to push for less than 30 minutes; pretty uncommon for a first baby.

And now, just like that, Kelly and I are parents. With new names that will stick with us for the rest of our lives. We will never not be parents from here on out. Our lives were just changed forever. And now we spend our days staring at our daughter, and our nights changing diapers, soothing whimpers, and feeding a hungry belly. Nothing is about us anymore, and we wouldn't have it any other way. 

A Nursery on the Cheap

Pinterest, Instagram - and the expectations you then begin to have - can be your worst enemy. Its true, and you know it.  It can affect everyone differently, whether with regards to their yard, parenting techniques, meals, or home design. In regards to motherhood, Pinterest and Instagram make us (or at least me) feel that in order to become a mother, we are required to have a nursery, and that it must be more elaborate than all the rooms of the rest of your home - combined! I have expensive taste and like a lot of us, a more limited wallet. As much as I want my daughter's room to be absolutely perfect, I also want to not feel bad when she doesn't sleep in it much because she ended up in our room, or when I realize that she will not have one single memory of this place.
Or when she poops and barfs all over it.
Just sayin'. 

A nursery is much more for the mother than it is for the baby. Think about it. All that happens in there is sleeping, diaper changes, and nursing (which can all technically occur anywhere). While that may sound like a newborn's whole life, what do you really need in order to accomplish those tasks? A place to sleep, a place to change them, and breasts. So why all this pressure for the world's most beautiful and elaborate space? That's not to say you can't create an elaborate space on a low budget.  Just because you're on a budget doesn't mean it has to look like it, does it? And you know, many of you may be able to afford the best money can buy. Sweet, go for it!
I just had to be a little more creative.

Obviously I still wanted a space for my precious baby. And I wanted it to be cute, clean and happy. But I also wanted to look at it and see my baby, not all the expensive stuff I accumulated to surround her. My original design would have been ultra simple, but also expensive, and since I decided to quit working so I could stay home with my baby, I didn't feel justified in spending an arm and a leg on her room (or going into debt).  Luckily, I was immeasurably blessed by others in order to create this room so inexpensively. My friends, at showers in Idaho and Washington, and my family really helped with this. So thank you all!

Crib: It was free from my aunt. While I was in the midst of crib shopping, I ended up being offered two cribs, and this one happened to already be in the same state as me and therefore easier for me to transport, so I took this one without ever seeing it. Amazingly enough, it is exactly the style I was looking for - modern meets classic. I was looking for clean lines, a modern feel, but somehow tie in a timeless look. It is very nice and great quality. I had two expenses for this, one being the paint to paint it white, and a kit to make it so the front rail no longer slides down, as that is no longer considered safe. I bought a gallon of paint for 27 dollars (voc free!) and with it painted 3 dressers a crib and a table, so I think I got my money's worth. (Also - all of her sheets were gifts, and the stuffed animal cows were an inside joke with me and Kelly that we already owned.)
     Total: $40

Dresser: We already owned this. We got it over two years ago from DI so to make it match her room I just stripped the top and oiled it with teak oil from a previous project, then painted the rest white and added new hardware (which I got cheap from Amazon). The hardware cost about 20 bucks, and I got 10 of those pulls. Oh, and while we are talking about the dresser, just a word to other about-to-be-new-moms: If you are planning on having a shower, don't buy any clothes! You will likely get plenty. I have spent about $40 total (most of which occurred yesterday at a thrift store, and are for when she is older) on clothes and her dresser is full. You can always buy clothes after a shower to fill in the gaps of anything you may still need. Unless you are ultra picky about what your child will wear when they born and pooping and spitting on everything, you don't need to go spend a fortune on clothes.
     Total: $20

Basket: We already owned this. I think my mom originally got it from TJMaxx almost four years ago to use for my wedding, and then gave it to me. All the diapers and wipes in it were gifts. Also, if having a shower, don't stock up on diapers and wipes until after. You'll likely get lots of these too, and then you can fill in the gaps. Also, unless you have a brand preference, a friend helped me discover a good place to get cheap diapers is Babies 'R Us. Their store brand is only 13 cents a diaper  (size 1) at normal price. They have great sales and you can often end up getting them for 7 cents a piece. Makes you not feel so bad about throwing them in the trash. I know Diapers.com and Amazon Mom (which I am also a part of) are also great places too, as you can get the brand you want at a great price. Amazon Mom is only worth it to me because we already are Amazon Prime members because of Kelly's iPhone repair business. His supplier sells through Amazon so its worth it for his business to pay for the membership to get all his parts. Since we are already paying for it, it makes Amazon Mom seem kind of obvious. Plus, they ship right to your house and you don't have to go to the store!
     Total: $0

Changing pad/cover: Found both of these at Bed Bath and Beyond for a total of 46 dollars, but I used a gift card I had left over from last Christmas from my in laws! We found out we were expecting shortly after the Holidays so we decided to save the gift cards to use for her room. (The pad is Colgate and the cover is Aden and Anais)
     Total: $0

Diaper Genie: It was my friend's, but her husband didn't like it so she gave it to me!
     Total: $0

Glider: I found this at Target (part of the Simmons Augusta collection). Actually my mom did - thanks mom! She knew the only one I had found that I really liked so far was over 1300 dollars, so when she found this one (and was pretty sure I would like it) for 300 she called me right then while she was sitting in it! Mom's are the best. Also, I added this to my baby registry so that when I got my completion coupon in the mail I could order it for 15% off, making it $250.
     Total: $250

Ottoman: I also found this at Target, while shopping with my mom. It was on clearance (originally
$60, reduced to $19) and then I had a Cartwheel coupon that brought it to a grand total of $15.
     Total: $15

Valence: This was a table runner that I found at HomeGoods for $10 while shopping with my sister in law. I loved the color and the quilted aspect, and just determined I would find some way to make it into a curtain. I thought about grommets, but I didn't want to buy the machine, so instead I found this perfect geometric gold and white ribbon for $2 at Walmart and sewed button holes into the top of the valence and then attached the ribbon. I also sewed the pleat into the middle because it was too long. I pressed the pleat, but because the fabric is so thick, I also used double sided adhesive to get the pleats to stay together. I got the curtain rod for $10 at Walmart. (I am considering going back to see if they have another one of these and making it into a crib skirt.)
    Total: $22

Rug: This is a bathmat that I found at HomeGoods for $15. I wanted a big rug, but I loved the colors and geometric pattern of this, so I decided to use it anyways, even though its small (and meant for bathroom!)
     Total: $15

Shelf: We already owned it. It was originally on clearance from Home Depot, I believe. All the books on it were gifts, and we already had that picture and frame. The "L" Kelly made me for Valentines day actually, but when we found out we were having a girl and then picked a name, we decided it would go in her room. The Willow Tree Angel/Baby was a gift from my mother.
     Total: $0

Lamp: Already owned it, and it was originally purchased a year a half ago from Bed Bath and Beyond with a gift card we got for Christmas.
     Total: $0

Mirror: Already owned it. When we moved into our new place here, there was already a full length mirror attached to the door of our walk-in closet, so we used our mirror and turned it sideways and hung it above the crib to add light to the room.
     Total: $0

Blessing Dress: I was blessed in it. It was made by my a friend of my mom's when my older sister Nikelle was born, but I ended up being the one blessed in it.  This week I am taking it to the cleaners to have it cleaned and steamed and all ready for her:)
     Total: $0

Quilt: Made by my sister in law Meredith. She's amazing! And the peach in the quilt was the inspiration for the peach in the rug and the valence.
     Total: $0

This room cost me $362 dollars. 

                                               

One of the best things to do when decorating on a tight budget is to write down the purpose and function of the rom.  What do you want out of the space? List the general feeling, and also specific items you would like in there. Then think about what you already have and how you could make it work. It won't be like the item in your dreams, but it will work and be basically free! By updating furniture with paint and/or hardware, and using mirrors, shelves, light fixtures, etc., that I already owned, I saved a ton of money on this room.

Also, make a baby registry. I thought this was stupid but was told to do it just for the completion coupon at the end. I felt dumb compiling a list of things I wanted for the baby as if I expected people to actually buy them for me. I put the glider on there, for a goodness sakes! I felt like an entitled teenager. But it was awesome, because I didn't actually have any expectation for people to buy me stuff off of there, so when they did, it was just a happy surprise! Plus, you get a coupon in the mail to use on anything left on your registry after your shower (you can have a registry even if you don't have shower). The coupon can be used in store and online. So I saved a ton on my stroller, carseat, and glider by using this.

Now I look on Pinterest and see all the extravagant things I could have done, and think about the  expensive yellow and white tribal rug I wanted, and my dream glider. But you know, this is cute, clean and happy, which were my requirements, and I am so happy with it! I just love sitting in it and dreaming that she is here in my arms already. And Kelly walks in there every day and looks in her crib and imagines she is there and that he is saying goodbye to her when he leaves for work in the morning. It doesn't matter how nice your nursery is, the thing you'll really be obsessed with is the babe:)

And--an extra bonus to it being affordable means that you can feel justified to splurge on a particular item. Just decide what item matters most to you, whether it be your glider, crib, diaper bag, rug, etc. You don't feel bad splurging on one item when you kept costs so low on everything else. 

Nursery Reveal

And here is a little "first letter" reveal for you too:)

Its finally done! Well, I guess actually I haven't been working on it long, I just had to wait till we moved to Utah to even start on it, so it feels like its been in the works a while. Especially since I started dreaming about it as soon as I learned I was pregnant right after New Years.

It has turned out pretty different from what I thought I originally wanted, but as pieces began coming together, what I wanted changed. All I knew for sure was that I didn't want it all pink, and I that I wanted it simple. I really didn't want a lot of extra stuff that was just there for decoration that really had no purpose (although I do guess being a decoration is a purpose). The vision began changing when my lovely sis in law gave me a quilt she made for the baby. I fell in love with the peachy/coral color in it, and began looking for accents in that color. I originally wanted her room to be white, grey and yellow, but I like this better.

I wish the walls were white - people told me that it would be "so nice!" when I moved and didn't have white walls anymore, but since I rent and can't paint, I actually prefer white because its so neutral, versatile and most of all - bright! (And if you know me at all, you know how obsessed I am with white...) Also I think it would match her room better. Most of the walls in our place are a light tan, which is pretty nice, with a few accents of a darker tan in the master bedroom, but of course, its only the baby's room in which all four walls are the darker color. But alas, oh well. What can you do as a renter with a landlord who won't let you paint? You get over it.

Lastly, this room was CHEAP.  I'll talk about it later this week. I know this room is nothing extravagant or super high end, but at the same time it isn't a dump. You can have a nursery that is clean, cute and put together without spending a fortune. Which is good, cause everything I originally wanted cost a ton and I was afraid if I couldn't afford those items, I would be devastated with how her room turned out. Luckily, I was wrong:)

A Bumpdate: 37 weeks

 We are getting so close! Her nursery is about done, finally. Things finally started coming together after we moved. Its not much like I originally imagined it, and its really nothing fancy or extraordinary, but I am pleased with the outcome nevertheless. Its crazy to think that I will actually be a mom in just a few short weeks. It completely blows my mind! I know I'm not ready but "ready or not......" right?

I had my first eventful appointment of this pregnancy on Thursday. Usually my appointments last about 5 minutes since I am a textbook pregnancy with no problems at all. But after complaining about a little discomfort, which I assumed to be totally normal, my midwife decided to check some things out, as well as check my cervix, which she didn't plan on doing until next week since I was not quite 37 weeks (36 weeks 5 days). Turns out I had a yeast infection, which I was unaware of because it is completely internal, but was adding to the discomfort I was feeling.

So far (as of last week) I am only dilated to 1 cm, and 70% effaced, but hey! at least something is happening, right? Baby has been head down for months, since about 25 weeks, and she has never turned back around so  I doubt there's any chance that she will now. Plus there isn't really room for her to turn anymore....although I guess you never know. Her head is nice and low and engaged, so I say, get her here already! I know she is a lot easier to take care of as long as she is in me, but...as anxious as I am about everything, I'm also getting really excited to meet her:) My midwife says I am more progressed than she expected, especially for a first baby and having not been even 37 weeks yet, but I have to keep reminding myself I have three weeks still, and will likely be late. My mom said she would dilate to a 5 and then stay there for over a month! That cannot happen to me. Luckily, it really can't as I would be induced if I was going that late!

I still can't really tell when I am having Braxton hicks. The mornings where I walk fast and long I feel some kind of intense pain on the right side of my abdomen, feels like a side ache but kind of different, and it feels like its in my abs, or whats left of them anyways. I've been told those could be Braxton hicks, but they haven't been anything horrible or made me worried at all. Also, turns out I tested positive for Group B Strep, so I have to be treated with antibiotics during labor and delivery, but that's nothing to worry about, either.

 As for aches and pains, its starting to get more uncomfortable. I think if I moved around less I would hurt less, but I've just had so much to do! I walk about 4 miles in the morning and then come home and end up rearranging my furniture (still trying to get it just right), or dragging all of Kelly's tools and storage out of the nursery so I can photograph it. He decided that's his favorite place to store his tools, because he says really its just a storage room anyway because she won't even be sleeping there for a while, so its just storing all her stuff. But isn't that all any bedroom is? So, my hip flexors hurt, and changing position in bed is uncomfortable, and there is a lot of lower abdominal pressure, but most of the time I feel ok and just hope she's healthy and happy and enjoying all her time in Heaven learning and getting prepared to come join our family:)

Feeling: Like I couldn't get any bigger. I am afraid she is going to be huge. Seriously. I have an abnormally long torso and I can tell you she is taking up all. of. it. I have been measuring a week ahead for this whole pregnancy but they won't change your due date unless you are measuring two weeks ahead. Just watch, I'll actually be late with a 9 pound baby. Kelly was 9 pounds. I'm terrified.
Loving: My air conditioner. We had it in our last place, too, but it broke and they didn't fix it before we moved. So this is nice. Also loving the park down the road from my place and of course, Wheeler Farm, like I mentioned last time. Both are excellent places to get my daily hour of exercise, since other than that, I have begun kind of enjoying being lazy, unless you count housework :)
Hating: The pain down low, but it comes and goes, so I survive, and its really not that bad...most of the time.
Eating: Once again, nothing new - a lot of fruit. Most of the space in my fridge is being taken up by grapes, peaches, nectarines, pineapple and cantaloupe.
Wearing: Leggings. haha I wear a lot of dresses and maxi skirts too, but on the days where I can actually nap and relax (which has actually only once or twice last week - we had an insanely long list of things I needed to get to get done) I stick to my most stretchy options.
Doing: Finishing her room. I think I finished the last of things this morning. And walking, and completing my list of things to do before she is born. I finally packed the diaper bag full of things I will need at the hospital for the baby, because those things would be harder to explain to Kelly if an emergency happened. I haven't pack anything for the hospital for me yet, because I figure I'll have plenty of time to pack once I start actually having contractions.  .  .
Weight Gain: 25 pounds. People were seriously right when they told me most of the weight gain comes at the end. I have gained almost half of my total weight gain in a month and half. Its insane, and super terrifying. The midwives say I'm doing fine, but it totally freaks me out. I know I am retaining tons of water now, as my hands swell up bad every morning, especially on my walks, and my feet swell up every night, although now its sort of becoming  constant state of swollen - ness. Ready for this to be gone.
Stretch Marks: Not on my belly, but I have a couple of tiny extensions to old, existing, faded ones that are on my hips from puberty.

3 more weeks to go (hopefully)! I can do this!

Also, Thanks to this handsome guy for being behind the camera. I'm the most awkward person take photos of...and don't mind the quality of these photos, I didn't change all the settings before I gave him the camera...so pretend they lighting is perfect are that they are all in focus!

Adventuring

We are settling pretty well here in Utah, and enjoying it, I think. Kelly is in love with his job and really enjoys his coworkers, so all the long hours in the office are worth it. Especially when he comes home at night and still has energy and is excited to tell me all about his day. Its adorable, really. I have been exploring parks and places around my town so I can get my daily walks in, which is about as much of a work out as I get anymore. I never really considered walking as exercise, but at nearly 37 weeks pregnant, I decided it totally is. 

I am enjoying having so many places so shop just right out my front door (although maybe the budget isn't..?) and so many beautiful places to explore! Kelly and I are trying to make the most of this time before baby girl comes, as getting out and about on adventures may get harder in the very near future:) My sister Nikelle and her husband Hunter live in Provo, and Layton and Meredith were in town on their way home from California after climbing Mt Whitney (they're legit) so last weekend we went with everyone and drove up Provo canyon. We were originally in search of Stewart Falls so we could hike them, but it ended up pouring rain and we got lost and ended up just enjoying the beautiful drive. In the end, we decided to do Bridal Veil falls instead and we figured since you get wet climbing up anyways, it wouldn't matter that it was raining.  But when we got back to the main road we learned that it hadn't even rained one drop there - so we had nothing to worry about!

Instead of taking the trail to the top, we just climbed straight up through the water and it was wonderful! It was a beautiful place and thankfully, my brother Layton was nice enough to help me down all the slippery parts on the way down -thanks bud:) We played like 5-year-olds with all the fish afterwards, and then enjoyed a nice walk through the parks nearby. 

Thanks fam for the awesome Saturday - we'll have to do the hike again soon, but this time with a baby carrier strapped onto me - getting close!

Bumpdate: 32 weeks

With just 8 weeks to go now, I think I can say I have officially entered "nesting" stage, but since my apartment is a mess with the move coming up, you can't really tell. I've just been going crazy painting and finishing projects that I've wanted to do forever but lacked the time, energy and motivation to actually do. Its crazy what a move and pregnancy can do in the motivation department. All I have to do is visualize moving into our new place with none of these projects done (hence - her room would look atrocious) and I get motivated all over again. I am so grateful for summers off so that I have time to do all of this, otherwise she would never have a nursery. Hopefully when we move, all the projects are done so that I can set her room up and make it perfect just in time for her arrival. Barely. Whew - we're cutting it kind of close!  Granted I'm not planning on her showing up till about September 13th (I'm due on the 6th). Four of the five of us were late for my mom and first pregnancies are most likely to be late... so I guess if she comes late then we're not cutting it quite so close with the move and everything.

Feeling: Fabulous! I feel really great. Though, I can tell I waddle a tiny bit after a hard work out - all the cartilage and ligaments in my body get relaxed after I stretch. It goes away pretty fast, though.
Eating: Fruit: In any form. Dried fruit, smoothies, whole fruit. Its all going down. I have been especially fond of nectarines and cherries lately. Mmm.
Hating: The heat, once again, but finding reprieves in the river floats with my family:)
Loving: That I still have so much energy and motivation to get things done. I need to have it since there is so much to do so I hope its here to stay! I had a couple weeks of really low energy around 27-30 weeks but they went away pretty fast and I'm back to normal. I think exercising helps a ton though. My sister-in-law and I work out every morning at 7 together and its been a lifesaver for my energy levels. So many morning I don't want to get up and going but I never regret it!
Wearing: Nasty grungy clothes because I've been painting for 2 weeks straight. So far I've done two dressers, a crib, and my kitchen chairs. I still need to do the mirror that goes above Kelly's dresser and one then one more dresser. Then I'm never painting for the rest of my life. Ever. (Though it is hard work, I'm super ridiculously happy at how transformed my spaces look by redoing a few key pieces of furniture. So much better -well, cheaper!- than going out and buying all new stuff.)
Rings: On
Stretch marks? Nope. We'll see how long that lasts. I feel great and everything, but when I see pictures, I think I quite resemble a whale that has legs and can stand up...
Total Weight gain: 16 pounds

And now for you enjoyment, Kelly, imitating me. Though I'm not sure what the face is....