Thirty-Six Weeks + A Surprise Doctor's Visit

Yep, you read that right.  Surprise!

We had a minor "scare" Thursday (lots of cramping and back pain that started around 10:30am and came and went all day), so we paid a little visit to Dr S around 3:30pm to be checked out.  But don't worry, you didn't miss anything---nothing's going on down there. (Insert super sad face here.)  I would definitely let you all know if there was any news, even if the hubs had to post it! ;)

The nurse practitioner, Sandra, said my cervix is still closed, but that she could feel Reagan's head down there (not easily---she has a little way to go before she's actually putting the needed pressure on my cervix).  Her heart rate sounded great and there's lots of movement, so everything looks peachy-keen as far as baby goes (PTL!).  As for the pains I've been having, Sandra told me to just monitor the contractions/cramps and call them back (or go to the hospital) if they start to become more frequent and intense.  So, basically, just keep waiting and doing what I'm doing!  Well, alllllllrighty then.

(Side Note/Warning for Future Mommies: having your cervix checked is NOT pleasant. Things are swollen and tender down there as it is (sorry for the TMI, but it's true!).  Just ask your doctor/NP to use LOTS of lube and take it slow, and then focus on taking deep breaths throughout the exam.  The more you tense up, the worse the pain will be!  Hope that helps!)

I have to say, I was quite disappointed when NOTHING was going on in that department.  I guess I just assumed with all of the pressure, BH contractions, and cramps I've been feeling over the last few weeks that I'd at least be dilated a smidgen!  But after I shed a few tears (yes, I know, I'm hormonal...what's new? lol), I prayed and thanked God for the health of myself and Reagan and asked for peace and patience as we continue to wait for her arrival.  I know He already has her birthday, as well as the labor and delivery, all planned out, and that whether it's tonight or four weeks from now, it's going to perfect.  I just need to be patient and wait for Him to finish His work on her! So, of course, after praying, I felt much better!  I slept pretty well that night (I was pretty exhausted), and woke up with some renewed energy yesterday.  I'm ready to conquer these next four weeks...we can do it! :)

So, obviously that's why I didn't get around to posting Thursday (which was the day I originally planned on checking in).  Sorry guys!  But now that you're all caught up on our little false alarm, let's see how Reagan's weekly update is looking!  We're at THIRTY-SIX weeks!!!! Ahhhhh!

Symptoms:

-cramps/back pain (duh, lol)
-nausea (on and off)
-restlessness (I've been sleeping on the couch for a solid week now...I wouldn't say it's "more comfortable", but at least I don't feel like I'm keeping my honey up all night with my insomnia)
-fatigue
-bursts of energy (these don't last long, but they're welcome when they do come!)
-hunger (I couldn't get enough to eat yesterday!  She must have hit another growth spurt.)
-inability to eat a lot at once (I've actually started eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day and that seems to be helping with the overstuffed feeling)
-heartburn/indigestion

Size of Baby:

Some sort of melon...some apps still say a honeydew while some say a crenshaw melon...which I don't even know what that is, lol (around 19 inches long and somewhere around 6 pounds...unless she's still a chunky butt, and then she could be closer to 6.5 pounds)

Milestones/Happenings:

Peanut is pretty much just hanging out upside down (head down), getting fatter, waiting for the Big Day to arrive!  She is still moving a lot, but mainly it's just wiggling her butt or tucking/straightening her legs (both in my ribs...ugh).  Every now and then I'll feel her head down low or feel her little hands tickling me when I'm sitting up.  As much as I want to see her sweet face, I will miss getting feel her wiggling around in there...just maybe not the extremely painful, Super Baby movements she hits me with sometimes! lol

Belly Pic:

The Bump continues to grow!  I'm feeling "rounder" this week...whatcha think?  Still no stretch marks yet (praise God!) and my belly button is still half in/half out.  It can't decide what it wants to do, I guess, lol.

Well, that's a wrap, y'all!  I promise I'll keep you guys updated on any more "surprises" and definitely check in after our scheduled appointment with Dr S on Tuesday.  Until then, please be praying for sweet baby Reagan and I, and for a safe, quick delivery---whenever God has that scheduled to be! :)

Verse of the Day:  "Guide me in Your way and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long." (Psalm 25:5)

Thirty-Five Weeks Down....and Thirty-Five DAYS To Go!

How in the world do people physically carry around twins, triplets, or even just really big babies in their bellies??  And how in the world do people work labor intensive jobs the entire forty weeks??  For those of you who do, y'all are my heroes! lol

We're celebrating the thirty-five week mark today, but I honestly feel like I'm closer to forty weeks.  This week has, by far, been my most physically demanding one yet...between the fatigue, restlessness, Braxton Hick's, and this ever-growing baby girl, I have almost officially turned into a couch potato. The only part of my day that makes me feel as though I've accomplished something is when I do my elliptical workout, which I did manage to do four times this week.  (Go me! Oot oot!)  I figure that my exercise regimen is the only thing that's keeping my energy level from completely hitting zero, and I know it'll be nothing but beneficial during the labor process, so I've got to keep it up as long as I can!

Ok, whine-fest is over with (for now), lol.  So what else has been going on in the ole' uterus this week? Let's see...

Symptoms:

-fatigue
-restlessness
-BH contractions (mixed with a feel "real", quick painful, ones)
-back pain
-cramping
-achy hips/thighs/legs
-dizziness (at times)
-nausea (more often the last week)
-inability to eat much at one sitting (if I try to keep shoveling it in, I definitely may for it later with the indigestion, bloating, and increased shortness of breath)
-shortness of breath
-frequent urination/bladder spasms (when Reagan decides to use my bladder as a punching bag)

Size of Baby:

Honeydew Melon (18-19 inches and 5.5-6 pounds)

Milestones/Happenings:

From now until she's born, Reagan will continue to fatten up, gaining one to two more pounds of fat. She also may grow another inch or so...although I have no clue where I'm going to fit another inch and two pounds of baby! lol

Most of her organs are fully developed, and her lungs are almost completely ready to take over once she's born.  Her brain is working like crazy getting ready for all of the developing it will do in her first few years of life.  And her skull bones are preparing to overlap for the tight journey through the birth canal (isn't it awesome how God designs their heads to be able to do that??!).   This little girl is getting pretty close to being fully baked and ready to come out of the oven!  Yaaaay!

Belly Pic:

Maybe it's just me, but I seriously do feel like Peanut has grown a lot this week.  Every time I look at my belly in the mirror, it seems to have gotten bigger!  I feel "fuller" up towards my ribs, but I am almost positive she has dropped (woohoo!) and that those big ole (uncomfy) movements I feel up high are her long legs trying to stretch out and then tuck back into the fetal position.  The good news?  She's slowed down a little more (staying awake for shorter periods of time and not waking as frequently), which makes me think she really is preparing to make her debut!  Gaaah!

(Please ignore the marks all over my side...those are marks from the four---yes, FOUR---pillows I'm using to sleep with now, lol.)

Well, believe it or not, all this blogging has worn me out again!  I think it's time to join my sweet, peacefully-sleeping hubby and kitty-boy on the couch for a nap. ;)  I'll see you guys back here some time this week!

Before I go, I wanted to share this Verse of the Day about endurance, which I feel is very fitting for this stage in the journey to mommyhood and the way I'm feeling lately!  Hebrews 10:36 says, "For you need endurance, so that when you've done the will of God, you may receive what was promised."  No matter how physically-demanding pregnancy can be or how utterly exhausted I feel at times, I am confident that God has placed me on this path (this path that I've prayed so hard for), and I know He will give me the endurance to finish the race and claim the prize at the end!  Thank you, Lord, for providing this strength and motivation! :)

Thirty-Four Week Appointment

I know, I know.  I was supposed to blog yesterday... 

(Smacking my head.)

I promise I didn't purposefully forget you guys!  I didn't remember to blog until I was getting ready for bed last night, and by then, all brain cells are officially shut down for the night.  I swear, if this memory loss/brain fart thing doesn't get better after Reagan is born, I'm going to have to resort to writing all over my arms and forehead with a sharpie every morning telling myself what I need to accomplish that day.  That is, if I can remember where I put the sharpie...lol.

But any-who, here I am!  Ready to give you a quick summary of yesterday's appointment with Dr S!  

Well, let me start off by saying that apparently, I didn't have an appointment with Dr S yesterday...but for some reason (probably because my visits have been on a Tuesday ever since I started seeing him), I had it in my phone for Tuesday at 10:45am.  Come to find out it was for Wednesday at 10:45am. Oops...there go the brain farts again!  Luckily, his office is super sweet and told me they would try to squeeze me in since I was already there (granted, I'd have to wait a while since he was so packed already).  

Two hours later, our (rather uneventful) appointment was finally done!  My blood pressure was spot-on (113/72, or something like that), weight showed I've gained nineteen pounds so far, and Little Bit's heartbeat was nice and strong in the 130-140's.  She tried to play hard to get again when the nurse was using the doppler, and then she kicked the probe a few times.  I'm going to have to work on those manners of hers! lol

My belly is still measuring a bit behind (2.5 weeks, so 32cm), but neither the nurse nor Dr S seemed concerned still...probably since both my belly measurement and weight have technically increased since my last visit, so she appears to be growing just fine.  PTL!

I told him about my more frequent crampiness and BH contractions, and he said if they get to be more consistent, call the office and they'll either check me there or send me over to the hospital (which is right across the street--convenient!) to be checked and monitored.  In his words, "at this stage in the game, either it's just your body gearing up for labor--which can last all the way till forty weeks and be quite annoying--or it's preterm labor actually starting, which we're not concerned about since you're already over thirty-four weeks anyway".  So, in other words, either it's something or it's nothing, and we just have to wait it out! lol  

I scheduled my thirty-six appointment for July 2nd at 9:45am (YES, I have the correct date this time! ;) ). This is the one where he will test me for Group B Strep, which is a common bacteria that is usually harmless to mommies, but can be very serious to the baby if transmitted during delivery---so antibiotics are given before the baby actually arrives.  He'll also check my cervix for the first time to see if Miss Reagan has made any efforts to vacate the premises.  As much as I'm not looking forward to this "check", I'm excited to see if I'm dilated or effaced (thinned out) at all, especially with all of the pressure, cramping, and BH's I've been having!  Guess we'll find out in two more weeks! :)

Well, that's about it in a nutshell!  Sorry, again, for making y'all wait!  I promise I'll try to stay on track, but there's no telling how these brain cells are going to work over the next five weeks! lol 

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week, and Reagan and I will see you back here on Saturday! Please keep those prayers coming for continued good health for us both, patience as we wait to meet our sweet baby, and for this Mommy to be able to rest up for her big arrival.  We love you all and thank you for constantly keeping us in your thoughts and prayers...they're definitely being heard and God is pouring down His peace and blessings over us!  After all, 1 John 5:14 says, "And this is the confidence that we have in Him: if we ask for anything according to His will, He hears us." Amen, and thank you, Father God!

Thirty-Four Weeks

We did it!  We managed to make it to the thirty-four week mark (the time frame Dr S said is safe to deliver)!  Now only three more weeks till Miss Reagan is considered "full-term"!  Woohoo!  :)

So, are there any signs that she'll be making her debut soon?  Well, for the last few days, I have been feeling pretty run-down and having a lot of aches and pains...almost like she's trying to "drop" into position for The Big Day!  But I'll describe them a little more in the Symptoms portion of the update. Other than that, everything else is pretty much the same.  But you never know, she could decide to surprise us very soon!

Let's go ahead and get into the Pregnancy Progress Update, shall we?

Symptoms (the usual):

-nausea (on and off)
-fatigue
-restlessness
-emotional (I think this is from lack of decent sleep)

Symptoms (that she's trying to drop):

-bladder spasms (it literally feels like she's beating her head up against my bladder...fun times! lol)
-frequent urination (goes with the first one, naturally)
-intense pelvic/groin pressure (and yes, ladies, this DOES make you do the waddle!)
-lots of lower back pain that wraps around my hips and down my legs
-more frequent BH contractions (I notice that her big movements down low have actually been triggering some of these, too)
-inability to get comfortable...no matter what I try (this was definitely at it's worst last night, so I've been awake since 2:45am...ugh)
-slightly less frequent (but definitely more powerful) movements
-less shortness of breath than before (unless I eat a big meal or if her hiney/feet are in my ribs)

Size of Baby:

Pineapple---with the pointy stems on top, lol (around 18-19 inches and 5-5.5 pounds)

Milestones/Happenings:

Reagan's immune system is gearing up for her arrival; she's receiving some of my antibodies as we speak!  Once she's born, she'll be able to fight off some smaller (but definitely not all) infections, and continue to gather her own antibodies as she grows outside the womb.

Her fingernails have already grown out to the tip of her fingers and might even be so long that they curl around the tip.  Guess she'll come out ready for her first mani/pedi, huh? ;)

Belly Pic:

The growth of The Bump continues, and even more so during this final lap of pregnancy!  Surprisingly, even though my belly has grown (and I'm sure Peanut has, too!), I haven't gained any more weight this week.  I've read this can happen to some women in the last few weeks though...partially due to the pressure the baby puts on mom's stomach (making it harder to eat like she usually would), and then partially due to the fact that the body stops producing additional amniotic fluid around this stage in the game, which was contributing to the weight gain every week.  But have no fears---Reagan is definitely getting what she needs to grow!  This Mommy makes sure of that! :)

Ohhhhtay...that's it for today!  I'm off to get a few chores down around the house (before I completely run out of steam) and then the hubs and I (and Reagan) have a birthday party to attend!  (Can you say "ice cream bar"??? YUM!)

Of course, before I go, I wanted to share the Verse of the Day with you all...and today, there are actually two verses I wanted to share.  God had me flag these in my devotional the other day and I feel He wanted me to share them for those of you who are waiting for your own miracle to arrive (or possibly some other heart's desire that you've been praying about).  Proverbs 16:32 says, "Patience is better than strength", and 1 Peter 5:6 helps to complete this thought by saying, "...humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." Having true faith in God requires patience.  Patience is something the majority of us lack (myself included!), especially when it concerns matters of the heart.  But that doesn't mean that, just like faith, we can't gain it as we grow and mature in Christ.  So, today, I hope that you take time to stop, pray, be patient, and truly listen to what God has to tell you.  You may be surprised at what He has to say and the blessings He chooses to shower down on you! :)

33W4D and Still Going Strong!

We're almost to that precious thirty-four week mark, where Dr S says I need to be before he'll "let nature take it's course" if labor was to start!  How exciting is THAT?!

You know, it's funny that I've always heard OB's don't want you to go into labor before thirty-seven weeks (which is when the baby is considered to be "full term"), but the hubs saw Dr T at work the other day and he mentioned the same thing about me just needing to make it to thirty-four weeks...guess there's something to it!  Now, I'm not saying we don't want Reagan to stay in the oven and bake a little longer...the closer to thirty-seven weeks she is, the better!  But at least now we know that if, come Saturday, my water broke or real contractions started, they would let things happen as they may and she would be a-ok (hey...that rhymed! lol)!  That, along with the knowledge that, as always, God's got this all under control, really does make me feel a lot better.  It also solidifies the thought that it really could be "any day now"---eeeeeeek!

So, the big question is this: Are we ready for Miss Reagan's arrival????

YES!!!!

Physically, I am ready.  My belly feels like it cannot stretch anymore, and good, quality sleep has become a (not so funny) joke. She has gotten so big and so strong that her bigger movements actually make me involuntarily yell "ouch!" at times.  And my energy level has gone from a two-point-five to a zero...or maybe a negative one (depends on the day, lol).

Emotionally, I am ready.  I feel like we have waited our whole lives (well, I guess technically almost three years) to meet this little gift from God, and we can't wait to see what she looks like and what kind of personality she'll have.  We also can't wait to start teaching her things and watch her grow...ahhhh, I just can't wait!!

Spiritually, I am ready.  I have had my moments where I ask, "Can I do this, Lord?? Am I going to be a good Mommy??" But after praying and chatting with God, He assures me that He wouldn't bless us with this miracle if He didn't think we could handle it.  He also assures me that no matter what issues may arise (colicky fits, diaper blow-outs in public, sleepless nights), He will bless us with the ability and the knowledge to make it through.  Man, what an awesome Father we serve!

"Technically" (meaning baby product/nursery wise), I am 98% ready.  I still have to pack Reagan and my hospital bags, which I have been waiting to do till closer to the thirty-four week mark since I figured they'd just stop my labor and send me home if it occurred before then.  Call me crazy, and maybe it's just my OCD talking again, but I'm super excited to pack these bags!!  I'll try to accomplish this either Friday or Saturday.  Now, here's a question for all you Mommies out there:  besides comfy pajamas, a robe, slippers, makeup, hair care stuff, granny panties, pads, and something to occupy my time during the many, many hours of labor, what else do you guys recommend I bring with me? (Just for my bag...I think I've got Peanut's all planned out.) Feel free to comment me!

Well, I think that about answers that question, don't you?? :)

So, now we sit and wait for the next few weeks for her to arrive!  And while we sit and wait, we pray! My prayer is for a safe delivery for both Reagan and I, and for her to be healthy.  I also pray that God will continue to use us as witnesses for Him throughout this entire process, no matter what may arise. With that prayer in mind, I hold this Verse of the Day close to my heart: "And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)  I know that God has placed us in this well thought-out situation (all according to His perfect plan for us) in order to glorify His name and His kingdom...and I am certain that He will see this miracle through to the end, holding our hands every step of the way!

Alrighty, guys, that's it for today!  I'll be back here Saturday for our Pregnancy Progress Update.  Have a fan-tab-oh-lous rest of the week, and God bless you all!

Thirty-Three Weeks

Why hellooooo again.  Fancy meeting you here!  ;)

Since this is my fourth post this week (man, we've been busy, haven't we??), I'll make this one short and sweet!  Just wanted to give y'all a little update on the Nutter-Butter's weekly progress!

Symptoms:

-fatigue/restlessness (the two definitely do go hand in hand)
-lower back pain
-achy hips/thighs/tush
-Braxton Hicks contractions (they're slowed down a little since last week, but I'm still having several a day)
-upset stomach (alternating with constipation...joy!)
-nausea (on and off)

Size of Baby:

Honeydew Melon (17.5-18 inches and 4.5-5 pounds...and she could grow as much as a whole inch and half a pound this week alone!)

Milestones/Happenings:

Reagan has her eyes open during all of her wakening moments now, which seems to be more often lately.  Homegirl is always moving nowadays!  She can tell the difference between light and darkness very well, and has already developed her own little "circadian rhythm".  She knows that darkness means it's time to go to sleep (well...most of the time, anyway)---what a smart little girl!

She's also learning to alternate between breathing, sucking, and swallowing, which will be very important once she's on the outside!

Belly Pic:

The Bump is growing outward!  How big it looks usually depends on how she's laying, and this morning, she was rather low with her booty and legs all bunches up around my belly button.  Several people have told me I look like she's "dropped", but every time I start to feel like that (intense pressure on my bladder, lessened pressure on my ribs), she wiggles her way back up into her usual spot!  This little munchkin likes to keep me guessing, that's for sure!

(By the way, sorry for the blurry pic today!)

Alrighty, that's all until next week!  We had maternity pictures done this morning (EEEEK!), so I plan on posting some of those as soon as they're available...which will hopefully be the middle to end of next week, so stay tuned!  I hope y'all have a wonderful work week and remember that no matter this week brings, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever"! -Hebrews 13:8 (That was your Verse of the Day, by the way ;) )

Baby Shower and Reagan's Nursery Pics!

Yes, you read that right: nursery pics! 

We FINALLY finished decorating our little Peanut's room (well, we're 99.9% finished...she still needs a laundry hamper, but that's just a minute detail)!  I have to say, I am quite in love with it!  

Let's start out with pictures of her room and then we'll move on to the baby shower...whatcha say?

Here is my view from the door...you can also see the side of the hutch, but it wouldn't all fit into the picture.  I'm absolutely smitten with the wall decal above her crib...I can see it from the living room, and it makes me smile every time! :)

A close-up of the crib (which converts into a toddler bed and then later into an adult bed).  When I saw this crib, I knew it was "The One"!

Here is the hutch/changing table (minus the changing pad, which we have actually received as a gift since I took this picture).  I have things some necessities (lotion, brush, etc) stored in the cabinet there---super handy!

This nightstand will of course go by her bed when it is converted later on, but for right now, it's being used as a mini bookcase.  I love that Reagan already has lots of little books, and I can't wait to read them to her (or hear her Daddy reading to her)!

The shelves were one of the first things we put up once the furniture was delivered.  They're the perfect place to house my Willow Tree "Cherish" figurine (a little wooden statue of a pregnant women holding her belly) I received from my bestie (thank you, Jenn!), the "R" I painted for her, and a few other knick knacks.

Then there's this...the chair of all chairs.  The chair that gives other chairs a bad name.  This is my Little Castle glider/recliner, which I could not be happier with!  I have already taken several naps in it, and plan on spending many, many more hours rocking my sweet baby girl to sleep in it!

The little bedside table there doesn't match the other furniture exactly, but I needed some place to put the lamp and be able to hold my drink/snack/etc whenever I'm busy rocking Miss Priss.  (And the nightstand wouldn't fit into that space.)  It suits the need perfectly!

Okay...now for her closet.  I know, we're out of control!  But, in my defense, these outfits range in size from newborn to eighteen months, so they're not just for right now!  (And yes, they are organized by size...did you expect anything less? lol)  Reagan will definitely not have any problems in the wardrobe department!

The bins in the cubby are all labeled to make it a little easier to find things...so blankets, bibs, burp cloths, hats, and shoes all have their designated area.  The tubs up top hold bottles, bath time supplies, etc.

Her headband/hair bow holder is another item that I made for her, and I love the way it turned out!  You can't tell from this pic, but the fabric behind the "R" has little birdies on it.  Loving that she has lots of hair to put these little do-dads in (OMG--did I tell you the u/s showed she has HAIR?!  LOTS of it!!! PTL!), so these will definitely be put to good use! :)

Here's another close-up of the bedding...I'm obsessed with this Pottery Barn Kids bedding!  The stuffed animals are Mr Bunny (with his super cool shades on--those are Reagan's, lol) and Mutt, which is my hubby's stuffed puppy from waaaaay back in the day!  I love that he is in good enough condition to be able to incorporate into her room! 

Side Note:  I know the bumper pads aren't on there correctly...we had "technical difficulties" and finally gave up.  My mom is going to work her magic on them next time she comes up. ;)

So, what do y'all think?? I can't wait to bring our miracle home to her room for the first time!  EEEEK!

Ok, now time for baby shower pics from last weekend!  

The shower took place at my MIL's house, and it was thrown by her, my best friend (and cousin-in-law Jennifer), and my hub's Aunt Linda.  I had looked at a few baby shower themes online when we knew Reagan was a girl, and had picked out one called "Sugar and Spice" (because that's what little girls are made of! ;) ).  Man, oh man, did they do an absolutely AMAZING job making my baby shower "vision" come to life!  Thank you, ladies, for all of the thought and love that went into this special day!  

The wreaths that my MIL had made for Reagan greeted us when we arrived.  They were the perfect touch and screamed, "There's a baby girl baby shower going on here, folks!" Loved it!

Then, once you entered through the doors...you were met by the most tempting "dessert bar" ev-er. This table had everything a pregnant woman (or a chocoholic) could ever dream of: homemade truffles, cookies, chocolate-covered pretzels, all sorts of candies...the list goes on and on!  They really out-did themselves with this smorgasbord of sweets!

Another view of the table and decor...

Then there was the cake.  This cake was gorgeous, and pretty scrump-did-dah-lee-ump-tous, too!  The little decal on the front of it matches the decal on Reagan's wall...how sweet!

It's a little hard to see, but the cake board says "Sugar and spice and everything nice.  That's what little girls are made of!"  Tied into the theme beautifully!

These little onesie cookies were so cute!  And very yummy, too, I might add!  

I love this adorable sign my friend found on Etsy---perfect!

As if there wasn't enough food on the big table, they had a chocolate fountain with all sorts of dippable items to go with it.  My favorite thing to dip in chocolate (which I tried for the first time here)?  BACON!  Yes, bacon.  Big, thick slices of piggy goodness.  Needless to say, I was in chocolate-covered hog heaven! LOL

We managed to have some water bottle labels personalized with Reagan's name and the date of the shower.  It's the little details like this that made it extra special!  

Now let me tell you about that bowl of punch.  I could drink my weight in this stuff---no lie.  If you are ever in need of a good punch recipe for a party, shower, event, look no further!  It's so easy it's ridiculous, too!  Just take a 2-liter bottle of ginger ale, a bottle of pineapple juice, and a half gallon of sorbet (we like to use whatever color works with the party theme...so, of course, we chose pink for a girl!) and put them all together in a punch bowl and tadah!  You've got yourself some knock-out, make-you-wanna-slap-yo-mama punch! :)

My MIL made the most precious diaper cake in the world--complete with tutu and headband that can Reagan can wear later!  And her friend Diane (who also helped make this whole shin-dig possible--thank you, "Auntie Diane"!), who is Martha Stewart's long lost sister, whipped up that beautiful bow on the fly!

I don't even think this was even half of the gifts (the picture was taken earlier before everyone arrived). It took over an hour to open them all (with a brief potty-break intermission for my prego-self)---I was definitely exhausted afterwards! lol  My husband and I felt so unbelievably blessed after seeing the outpouring of gifts that Baby Reagan received!  We honestly cannot thank you all enough!

This is baby girl's first stroller to hold her baby dolls!  And her first baby doll is actually lying in the stroller, along with Mutt the Puppy.  I can just see Peanut pushing her babies around the house in this...ahhhh! I can't wait!  

Well, that was just a little peek at my beautiful baby shower!  There were lots more details, but I don't think I could finish this blog tonight if I showed them all to you! lol  I had a blast and left feeling more loved than I ever thought possible...so thank you again to everyone who put it together and attended it! We love you all!  

Whew.  That was a long post!  Sorry if I got a little long-winded there, guys! lol  Now it's time to go feed my husband and this little munchkin (who hasn't stopped rolling around since I sat down to start blogging over an hour and a half ago)!  

I'll be back one more time this week on Saturday for our Pregnancy Progress Update, so until then...God bless!  <3

Thirty-Two Week Appointment

I swear, these brain-farts are killer!  I can't remember anything anymore!

When I posted on Monday, I totally forgot to mention that we had our thirty-two week appointment scheduled for yesterday.  And then I forgot to post after we got home about how it went.  Man...what am I going to do with myself??  The scary thing is, I hear it gets worse after you deliver---aahhh!   Heaven help my poor child and those around me who expect me to remember anything important! lol

Ok, so while it's on my mind and while I can actually remember the details, let me give y'all a quick update from the appointment!

Everything looked good as far as my blood pressure and weight.  Their scale showed I've gained a little over 18 pounds so far, but thanks to this pesky constipation that has plagued me for the last FOUR DAYS (ugh), I have a feeling a pound or so of that are from all the food this weekend...including that box of chinese food I scarfed down the day on Monday...lol.  But either way, my numbers all looked good--PTL!

Reagan's heart rate was nice and strong at about 140 beats per minute, and she even did a little wiggle for Dr S while he was trying to measure it and my belly.  She's such a ham already! My fundal height (top of the uterus) is measuring at 29cm this week, which he said is a little small for being 32.5 weeks (their office likes to see the gestational age +/- 3cm), BUT when he heard that she was measuring 4.5 pounds on the ultrasound Friday, he wasn't very concerned.  He said that both the fundal  height and the ultrasound are both "rough estimates" of her size, and that he feels confident she will be small (like six pounds) or average size (seven pounds) when she's born.  Whew.  Thank God, cause the thought of a nine pounder scares the ba-jesus out of me! LOL!

We also discussed the possibility of preterm (early) labor (to prepare me mentally, just in case). Babies are considered "full term" at thirty-seven weeks, but he said if I were to go into full blown labor (regular, strong contractions and having broken my water) at thirty-four weeks, he wouldn't stop me from delivering.  If this were to happen before thirty-four weeks, he would give me a shot of steroids that would help to finish maturing Reagan's lungs before birth.  If I just had contractions but no leaking of fluid or anything, he would give me a drug (Magnesium Sulfate) to hopefully stop the contractions and keep her baking in the oven a little while longer.  This actually made me feel a lot better hearing that thirty-four weeks would be an acceptable (although still early) time frame to have her!  In the beginning, I thought I would be late delivering (my actual "guess" was August 1st), but for some reason, I've had a sneaking suspicion over the last few weeks that she might actually be slightly early (kind of like the feeling that hit me all of a sudden that Peanut was a girl ;) ).  God knew what I needed to hear to calm my nerves and give me peace, and He delivered at my appointment yesterday!  :)

Since everything looks a-okay, I'll go back in two weeks for another routine visit, and then again at thirty-six weeks, where he'll check my cervix to see if I'm beginning to dilate at all.  That's when the weekly visits should start, which is super exciting!  Heck, I'm super excited already--I can't imagine being any MORE excited!! lol

Okay doke, time to tackle some chores around here!  I'm still planning on posting about the shower and nursery tomorrow (if these annoying brain-farts don't get me again!), so I'll see you back here then!

By the way...today's Verse of the Day is Deuteronomoy 31:8, which says, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  I felt like God wanted me to share this today, so I hope it helps to encourage you, no matter what your situation may be!

Thirty-Two Weeks and Our 4D Ultrasound

Happy Monday, everyone!

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend---I know Reagan and I did!  Not only did we get to celebrate hitting the eight month mark, but we also got to see Meme and Papa (my parents), see her on the 4D ultrasound, AND partake in a SPECTACULAR baby shower!  It was a whirlwind couple of days, but oh-so fun!

I plan on posting some pictures from the baby shower and of Peanut's nursery (which is about 99% complete and blog-worthy now---yaaaaay!) a little later this week.  Today, I'll just update you all on her progress and show you a few pics from the ultrasound we had on Friday (which was, by the way, such an amazing experience!).

Let's start with our thirty-two week update...

Symptoms:

-backache
-achy hips/legs
-indigestion
-nausea (on and off...mainly when I'm getting hungry or when I've stuffed myself like a tick)
-sore/even bigger tah-tahs (yes, folks, they continue to grow...I even had to break down and go buy myself some bigger bras--nursing bras--to get through the next few months and in preparation for her arrival!)
-restlessness (Reagan and I both have been waking up around 2am and can't go back to sleep...makes for a long day, let me tell ya!)
-fatigue (hmmm...I wonder why...lol)
-bright blue veins everywhere (tah-tah's, belly, hips, legs...thank God I've gotten a little tan, which helps mask them a little!)
-Braxton Hicks contractions (oh my...these are not fun!  Although it's not necessarily painful, my belly gets hard as a rock, which makes it hard to move while it's going on.  They usually only last 20-90 seconds, and some are worse than others.  I have been having them more frequently lately; after a particularly busy day on my feet Friday, I had as many as six in an hour...but no worries, folks!  They stopped after I drank plenty of water, relaxed a little, and made sure my bladder stayed empty!)

Size of Baby:

Bok Choy (around 16-17 inches and 4 pounds, per the baby apps...keep reading for a more accurate weight)

Milestones/Happenings:

Miss Reagan is definitely running out of room in there!  Her movements have gotten to be less spastic and more "rolly polly"; sometimes it makes me feel as though she is trying to come through my skin! lol   She is able to open her eyes, which you'll see on the u/s pics.  She is also "rooting" (a reflex babies have when they're born that lets you know they're hungry); she did this a lot on the u/s, too, which makes sense because she and I were both starving! The poor thing was looking for something to eat!

If she were to be born now, her chances of survival would be very good (PTL)!  She could potentially have problems with sucking and nursing, but those would get better with age.  All in all, our little miracle is almost ready to make her debut---I can't wait!!

Belly Pics:

Just when I feel like my belly has reached it's max stretchability, it grows some more!  And all of a sudden, I have a very light "linea nigra" (the dark line some women get on their bellies during pregnancy due to surges of hormones) underneath my belly button...it just popped up sometime after thirty weeks, which is an odd time for it to show up (usually it's around the second trimester and then continues to get darker).  But I think it's sort of cute, and makes my bump look more "bumptastic"! ;) Lol! (I would post a picture of my new-found line, but it doesn't show up in the pics too well.)

Alllllrighty, now time for a 4D ultrasound summary and pics!

It was soooo amazing to see how much Reagan has changed since our last 4D was done---she actually looks like a BABY now! Eeeek!  She was VERY well behaved during the whole thing...wiggling, yawning, sticking her tongue out, sucking on her hand, opening her eyes...she was quite the entertainer!  Both my husband's and my parents were able to be there, which made the experience even sweeter.  There were lots of "oooohhh's", "aaaaahhh's", and "did you see that?!" over every thing she did, which I think it bound to continue once she joins us on the outside, too! ;)

My guess when we went into the u/s was that she would weigh somewhere around 3.5 pounds.  We're not expecting her to be a huge baby, since her Daddy and I were both right at 6 pounds when we were born (and we were both a little late).  Well...the u/s tech gave us all a good shock when she announced Miss Priss is weighing somewhere around 4.5 pounds already!  Yes, you read that right: FOUR AND A HALF POUNDS!  I have no clue where all of that baby is hiding!  Now, on average, babies gain about half a pound a week for the last two months, so she could be somewhere around 8.5 pounds when she's born...YIKES!  Needless to say, I was a little flabbergasted and slightly scared after we heard that! LOL

Because of her weight (and head size), she's measuring somewhere around 33W1D, which would make her due July 18th instead of the 27th.  I'm all for it, as long as she's healthy and happy! :)

Reagan is still head down, which is where she's been ever since our last u/s.  I was correct in thinking she was lying in sort of a "L" shape in my belly...with her tushie on my right side (she likes to push it up against my ribs) and her legs/feet on my left side.  Hopefully she'll stay head down and get into "position" in the next few weeks in preparation for her big debut!

Now, here are just a few of my fave pics...

The u/s tech said that most babies nose's look flattened in 4D, so we know more than likely, this is not the nose she'll be born with.  But those lips are definitely all hers, and she gets them from me!  ;)

Here she is with her eyes open...well, one eye, anyway.  I guess she was sleepy and rubbing the other eye with her little fist.

This was one of the first images of her (before the u/s probe interrupted her beauty sleep).  She quickly woke up and started "showing off" after that!

Sucking on her hand while simultaneously trying to shield herself from the paparazzi, lol.

It's kind of hard to see here, but she's sticking her little tongue out at us.  I mean, seriously.  How precious is she???

My husband and I keep playing the DVD they gave us of the u/s and looking at her pictures...we are just so in love with this tiny, sweet miracle!  If it's even possible, we are even MORE excited to meet her now!  T minus seven weeks and five days till that happens (give or take a few)!!!

Well, that's all, folks!  We are about to head out and find something for me to wear for my maternity shoot (which is this Saturday--yaaaay!) and then run a few more errands.  I do plan on posting the shower/nursery details later this week, so check back in with us!

Verse of the Day (this is perfect for thanking God for the blessings He showered us with this weekend!): "I will bless the Lord at all time; His praise will continually be on my lips!" (Psalm 34:1)