35 Week Ultrasound and Our Memorial Day Weekend

This morning we had our final ultrasound. I will be 35 weeks along tomorrow. 35 WEEKS! Holy Crap! Little Peanut is gonna be here sooooooo soon. We took the munchkin with us so she could get a little peek of her baby sister as well. She was so excited and was so good the whole time we were there. 

Everything went really well at the ultrasound. I am measuring right on schedule, all of our fluids are looking great.... the tech kept saying, “your fluids are looking so good!” Once in the regular room with our nurse practitioner, she repeated this excitedly as well. So apparently my fluids are looking really good... and it’s even something to be pretty excited about. Too bad I am not entirely sure why that is so exciting.

Baby girl is LOW. Like so low, the tech asked if I had been in alot of pain in my pelvic area. I actually have been pretty uncomfortable the past week, so I guess this helps explain that. Apparently her head is so far down she might be trying to escape already. Her little fist was also down there covering up her face as well, so under these circumstances we couldn’t even get a little peek of her. Nothin! The tech kept having me roll over and she kept wiggling my belly around trying to get her to move, but she wasn’t having any of it. I guess she wants to be a total surprise as far as what she is going to look like. At one point towards the end I was about to sit up and she started kicking and squirming and moving around alot, so the tech tried to take another look. After one more attempt, she says, “Looks like she somehow managed to move down even more, this baby isn’t giving us anything!”  Although we were very happy and thankful that everything else was looking so great, we were a little bummed to not even get a peek of little baby girl’s face.

This is what we did come away with. The first picture is of her arm. The second picture.... well I am not so sure to be honest. I think it might be her arm with her hand covering her face. It just looks all blobby to me.

We did come away with something I thought was very positive. The munchkin’s head had measured in the 90th percentile right before she was born. She definitely had a big noggin! But this little peanut’s head is in the 70th percentile. So I am hoping that this means labor might be a tad bit easier with a smaller head to squeeze out. One can hope at least! Right?

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This past weekend was Memorial Weekend. Normally, this would mean camping, going off to the lake or fun BBQ’s at friends’ houses. This year, we had nothing planned. Both of my sister’s went camping and took all their little kiddos with them. I camped before during my first pregnancy and I vowed to never do it again.  Plus the temps were in the high 90’s, so I had no interest in spending much time sitting outside in the heat at this stage in my pregnancy. It actually ended up being a really nice and relaxing weekend, with us not really making any plans and just hanging out. 

We spent Saturday morning hanging around the house. We baked some cookies and Joe and I both took a nap when the munchkin did. Afterwards we went to my parents house for dinner and my mom had a little pool set up for the munchkin to play in.  Sunday morning, I had a photoshoot at the house. We had set the studio up the night before, so I pretty much woke up that morning, ate some breakfast and my clients arrived for their session. They also happened to be friends of ours, so afterwards her little girl (only a few months younger then mine) played with the munchkin for a while before they left. After the munchkin’s nap, we headed out to run some errands and grabbed some dinner.  That evening we just hung out around the house and watched a movie. 

Monday, I pretty much slept in until noon. We had been up for quite a while during the night with a weird random puking at 1:00am by the munchkin. It was everywhere. We gave her a bath and had to wash all of her sheets and wipe down her headboard and everything. It was so gross and I felt so bad for her. This left her very upset and she couldn’t get back to sleep until around 4:00am. I still have no idea why she puked. She didn’t have a fever and has been totally fine ever since. It’s only the 2nd time she has really puked since she was a baby and had all her reflux issues, so the whole thing was really strange. I also had braxton hicks contractions all night long, so I didn’t actual start getting any real sleep until about 5 or 6am.  I finally rolled out of bed and Joe made breakfast for me and lunch for him and the munchkin. He whipped up some scrambled eggs with onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, cheese and bacon. It was soo good! 

During the munchkin’s nap, I made an apple crisp to take to my parents house with us. We were heading to their house for dinner again. I felt so lucky that my parents made dinner for us two evenings over the weekend. This was really awesome, especially since I was having braxton hicks contractions ALL WEEKEND LONG. My mom had set up another, somewhat deeper pool (about 2 feet, lol) so I dug up a maternity suit and plopped myself down into the pool. It felt pretty good being somewhat weightless while sitting there. And afterwards my pelvic area felt alot better too for a while. Sitting around and relaxing was exactly what I needed, cuz dealing with those contractions was pretty exhausting in itself. I had planned on finishing up the little peanut’s nursery, but that obviously never happened. I am really glad we hadn’t made any real plans and attempted to really go anywhere. It was also really nice getting in some extra time with my parents as well. I love that we live less then a mile from them now.

* * * *

I was supposed to be done taking pictures until after my maternity leave and things settled down with the new baby’s arrival, but it looks like I will have one more shoot still this Saturday evening. When I got a message from a family I had taken pictures for in the fall, asking if I could possibly have another session with them before my baby comes, I just couldn’t say no. I had so much fun with them and their two little girls and knew that it would be a really fun shoot. So I will be lugging this big ole belly out once more out for an outdoor shoot. Hopefully it won’t be too hot. I am actually planning on having my husband and the munchkin go with me so they can hang out at the playground while we are taking pictures at the old farmhouse. This park is about 40 minutes from my house and with all these crazy contractions I have been having, it’s probably better to play it safe just incase. 

This is my 5th family to hire me again for a second session since I launched my photography business in the fall. I think that is so awesome and makes me feel really good!

* * * *

So we are counting down the days, I feel like we are in that final stretch and she will be here so soon. I can not wait to meet her and love on her and introduce her to her big sister! I am also really looking forward to no longer being pregnant. It’s kinda bittersweet too... we are not planning on having any more children, so these last few weeks may be the last time I will ever feel a little baby growing inside of me. As uncomfortable as I am, I am also trying to remember that, and relish in the joy of it all as much as I can.

Mother's Day... Best One Ever!!

Me and My Sisters' Girls... Cousins!

Mother's Day this year was absolutely amazing.  First off I got to sleep in until 11:00am! That NEVER happens. I think I really needed it too. I don't sleep that well anyway, considering I am 32 weeks preggo and sleeping through the night just isn't something I can enjoy these days. Getting to sleep in those extra hours in the morning to make up for said sleep... wonderful! Ofcourse staying in bed that long has it's downfalls as well, like making me super sore!


When I did finally roll out of bed, I was greeted by a very excited little girl, shouting "Happy Mother's Day! Happy Mother's Day!" She was so excited to show me the flowers that she picked out all by herself at the store with daddy. It pretty much melted my heart. Last year she was way too young to really get anything like Mother's Day, so this was really my very first year that she could be excited about it and wanted to give me extra lovins. It was pretty awesome.

I had a card from the munchkin and the hubs and the flowers she picked out for me. We are on a super strict budget getting ready for the new baby, so I actually wasn't really expecting anything at all... but what I got was perfect.



The first half of the day was actually pretty lazy (especially since I slept in so late). I was bringing a Key Lime Pie and a fruit tray with dip to my mother's house that evening. I had already made the pie the day before, so all I had to do was run to the store for some fresh fruit and cut it all up for the tray and make the dip. I took care of all that during the munchkin's nap. Once she woke up and we all got ready, we headed over to my parents house around 4:30pm.

We decided to have a really easy menu this year so we wouldn't have to do much work in the kitchen. We grilled filet mignon, choice of sweet potato or white and some grilled veggies. I also made some steak butter for the filets. It was delicious!

The rest of the afternoon was spent hanging out in the back yard and visiting. The weather was absolutely perfect.

My mom's parents were there. Below is a pic of them with the munchkin. I am pretty lucky to have such awesome grandparents. My grandma's birthday is always right around mother's day, so we celebrate that too.

My mom is one of the munchkin's most very favorite people. She absolutely adores her.  I think it's because she knows she can count on her to always act really silly and have lots of fun with her.  She's always been a pretty amazing mother, now she gets to be a pretty amazing grandma.

Getting all the cousins to line up and take a good picture is not an easy task.

Adding their mother's to the mix, made it pretty much impossible.

Throw in a grandma, and we are lucky to just get everyone's faces in the same direction.

It's kinda crazy now that me and my sisters are all moms.  Mother's Day this year definitely had a little bit more of a special meaning, with our girls being a little older and me being pregnant with another little baby girl.

I felt especially lucky to have such awesome sisters. I really love these bitches.

But ofcourse my most very favorite person in the whole wide world really is the one that made things extra special for me. I can't believe how lucky I am sometimes, to get to be the little munchkin's mommy. She really is such a blessing.

She really makes me feel like she feels the same way too!

I hope everyone else enjoyed their Mother's Day, whether with their mommies, with their kiddos or both.  And to all the mommies out there in bloggy world... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

32 Weeks!! Other Updates and Finally, Some Belly Pics

I am officially 32 weeks along in my pregnancy as of today. Wow! I can't believe how close it is getting. I only have about 8 weeks left. I know it's going to go by so fast and be here before I know it... that's how this whole pregnancy has already been so far. 

All things considered, I am still feeling pretty good. I definitely have been having a few issues though. This pelvic pain thing (symphysis pubis disfunction) is a total bitch. I have been to a chiropractor twice, I just started going this past weekend, it seems it might be helping a little bit, but it's really too early to tell. He confirmed that I was definitely suffering from SPD and that he was sure it would clear up right after the baby was born. It was worse with this pregnancy because I already have had a baby and there wasn't as much support down below because of that. He also told me that although we could relieve some of my symptoms, they probably couldn't be alleviated completely until after I deliver.  I do some stretches that he showed me right when I wake up in the morning and that definitely helps me to get out of bed and move around with less discomfort. I have still been trying to walk at least a mile or two on the evenings I don't have a photo shoot and that really seems to help a lot. I am so grateful that the weather has been so nice.

I have been getting the worst leg cramps in the middle of the night, mostly in my right calf but a little in my left too. They actually get really bad early in the morning around 5 or 6 am. I woke up yesterday morning and it was the worst one yet. I was actually yelling out and crying really hard. It was awful! I knew it was a deficiency of some kind, as your body can leach things from places and use up a lot of your reserves to help with growing a baby, but I just wasn't sure what the problem was. I had the same issue while pregnant before, but this seemed much worse. I talked to a chiropractor friend who is sure that it is a magnesium deficiency. He recommended a supplement for it.  I started doing some research on that particular one and I am actually really excited to start using it. I have been reading a lot about magnesium lately anyway and how so many people are deficient in it and how many problems it can cause. I ordered it on Amazon and it should be arriving today. I can't wait to start using it and get some relief from these cramps! I really hope it helps.

Between the leg cramps, having to get up to pee every one to two hours and the little peanut moving around like crazy and waking me up all the time as well, I haven't really been getting very good sleep. I keep telling myself it is all to help me to prepare for her arrival. Since most likely, sleep will be even less then. Ahhh the joys of pregnancy....

So other then those things, I have actually been feeling really pretty amazing. I still have roughly 8 weeks or so left, so I know it's mostly likely down hill from here, but each day brings me closer to meeting this new baby girl and I am so excited about that! The munchkin has been talking about her a lot more too. She now refers to the nursery as the baby's room (calling her by her name) and she is constantly hugging and kissing my belly and talking to her. She will even tickle her... it's so funny! I tell her what a good big sister she is going to be and what an important job she will have. I am sure there will be some initial jealousy and I can't help but be a bit worried about that, but I am hopeful she will do okay.

Oh how I love this little girl. It's hard to imagine I am going to have to share all this love with another baby girl. I guess you just have more love to spread around. Cuz I definitely couldn't ever love her any less!

She really is growing into such a sweet and wonderful little person.  She has more and more personality every day and continually amazes me with all of her antics and views of the world. I think what I love most about her is how sweet and loving she is. I am excited to see what a loving big sis she will be!

My weight gain has completely stopped in the last few weeks. I think I have actually been losing some regular weight and gaining baby, so it has been averaging out. My pants have actually been fitting looser, while my shirts around my belly area have been getting tighter. I haven't been trying to, but once I realized this was happening, I have noticed a few things I have been doing differently. I haven't been eating as much honey or syrup in my baked goods (I have been using more stevia as my sweetener) and I have been snacking less in the evening before I go to bed. Nothing I was doing on purpose, but now that I can tell that is what was making me gain more weight then I had hoped, I will probably try to stick with it some. I am definitely still eating plenty of food and this baby is getting lots of nourishment! I just know how hard it was gaining so much weight the first time around and how much easier it would have been to deliver if I hadn't gained so much. I'll do anything to make labor easier!


This belly sure is getting big though huh?

So it feels like I am in the final stretch! I have picked up a few more things for the nursery, but we are waiting for Joe to start his school break before we really get in there and start hanging stuff on the wall and putting everything together. His finals are next week and then we can start getting some things done. I am so excited to finish things up in there and have everything all ready!

My friend Anna and my sis Amy are having a "Sprinkle" for me in a few weeks. We are going out to dinner with some of my girlfriends and really just have a night out. I am really looking forward to it!! It will be nice to have a girls night out before I become a temporary hermit for a while.


It's hard to believe I am going to have a newborn in the house again really really soon. I am excited for sure, but I am not gonna lie, I am also freaking out just a little!!

The Little Peanut Moving Around in My Belly!

So I haven't gotten around to taking some good belly pics recently like I had hoped. I know... shame on me! I have just been so damn busy. Last night I was laying in bed though and the little Peanut was going nuts in my belly like she usually does right when I am trying to fall asleep. So I grabbed my phone and decided to take a little video.

The munchkin moved in my belly too, but nothing like this one. I would see a bump push out and move across and I even caught that on video a few times and posted it on my blog. But this is a little different. My entire belly will move around and jiggle. It will cave in and push out and start jostling around like crazy! It will almost knock me off my feet sometimes with how much more I can feel the pressure and movement from this little gal. Not sure what that means... but I am sure I'm in trouble somehow!

Anyway, I caught a little of it on video last night. Ofcourse she slows down as soon as I try to capture it, but you will still get the idea.....



I WILL take some good belly pics this week. I PROMISE!!