Week 36: Crenshaw Melon

This week Cash is approximately 6 pounds (of the weight of a crenshaw melon) and more than 18 1/2 inches long and gaining about an ounce a day now.  As you can see from my belly!!

It took a few days of the week to feel rested from last weekend...guess that is a sign of a good time!!  By mid week I was feeling rested and ready to start being productive around the house.  Thursday night we had dinner with my old boss and his awesome wife.  As always it was fun to catch up and we had a good round of what should we name Cash - but we came away empty handed in that department but full from the tasty food and good company.  Thanks again Walter and Jeni.

On Friday I had my weekly checkup with Dr. E.  I found out I tested positive for Strep B which made me feel gross until doc made me realize that she did not just tell me that I had cooties - haha. Just something to be prepared for if indeed Cash is delivered vaginally.  She brought in the ultrasound cart right off and took a look at Cash's position which I knew had not changed.  We are still breech and in a pike position, so butt down.  We discussed turning but I told her I just wanted to wait and see if a turn will happen, although she said from the pike position it will be difficult.  At this point I am over worrying about it and as the doc said, babies are so unpredictable.  As long at the end of this journey we have a healthy baby I do not care how he/she arrives...

I spent the majority of the weekend with my mom cleaning the house.  We are calling it spring cleaning although we are in the heat of summer but with the rain on Friday and Saturday it was easy to be indoors.  My little brother was also in town so we all had breakfast together before he had to be at the wedding he was in town for and the hubby had to go to work.  I know it doesn't sound like an exciting weekend and to some this might be nesting but it's pretty normal for me.  What can I say, I like to clean.

Hope you have a lovely week.

xoxo~
CC

Week 35: Honeydew Melon

**Sorry for the delay.  I was out of town this weekend.**

Holy Honeydew Batman!  Cash is approximately 5 1/4 pounds (the weight of a honeydew melon) and 18 inches long.  My checkups now are weekly.  This week everything was good.  I had gained 2 pounds since my last visit 2 weeks ago making total weight gain 25 big ones.  I am not dilated yet and Cash is still breech.  I did not see Dr. E this week, but a partner.  She said Dr. E would talk options about turning the baby at my next visit.  In the meantime I am going to look into some holistic methods to present to her as the procedure to turn does not sound like something I want to do.

 As already mentioned I was out of town over the weekend and therefore weekly pics were not possible.  We have had such a busy summer and not a lot of time to have fun on the weekends as we have had in the past.  So the hubby and I took off to Centerhill Lake for the weekend on Thursday night.  A storm had blown through and the power was out when we got to the cabin.  It was pretty awesome at first but we were starting to get nervous due to melting ice on the food in the cooler and being too hot to sleep.  We made a run to the local Wal-Mart for some ice and Tiki torch oil and were entertained by the lovely people of Smithville.  Luckily after 5 hours the power came back on and we were in bed with a fan by midnight.  Friday the hubs did some clean up with a leaf blower and took another trip to town (which concluded with a stop for garden fresh tomatoes for me - yippee) while I prepped food for the weekend.  Then we just lounged around until a few friends arrived for the night. 

I cannot think of a much better time between uninterrupted time with my love and relaxing on the lake with friends.  It was a different kind of weekend as there were new and old friends but everyone meshed well.  Sometimes you never know how something like that will go, but what is to complain about when there are boats, sun, booze (of course none for me) music, great conversation, and just general loving of life going on all around.  To be honest I was afraid with the fact I would not be partaking with all of the merriment that it might make me a sour girl, but it wasn’t too bad.  There is always next year :o)

Now we are on the homestretch with the husband starting his last summer class this week and I having my weekly checkups and keeping the house in order with some help from my mom until the big arrival.  And don’t worry – I have had my hospital bag packed since May!  But now Cash is pretty much nameless as we are having difficultly deciding.  Maybe this all would have been easier to have known the sex.  And I have promised that if we have another I would find out the sex as this is not the way my husband wanted it.  Hopefully at the end of this journey we have a healthy baby and the sex will not be so much of a big deal - well until teenage years - haha.

Off to rest my tired and swollen feet.

xoxo~

CC 

Week 34: Cantaloupe

Cash is approximately 18 inches long and 4 3/4 pounds (the size of an average cantaloupe)  It is crazy just how big that is inside my belly.  Movements now are not so much kicks as waves of Baby C shifting into a more comfortable position.

With it being 108 degrees plus this weekend, my wedding rings are not fitting as they should.  Friday night I had to soak them off in ice water so today I decided to wear them around my neck.  They are closer to my heart this way, right? hehe

This week has been fairly low key but the out pour of love I was feeling from last weekend has carried over to this week.  I had some nice at home time with the hubs and feeling more in love than ever.  I know just how precious these last weeks are for us preparing for becoming a family of three.  The last month or so had been hard for me.  I was more emotional and experiencing thoughts I should not about whether becoming parents was the right thing for us.  I was feeling disconnected from my husband.  I love all of the people in my life but of course my husband is number one and feeling that was not what I thought would ever happen.  I expressed my feelings and I am feeling so much better.  Not much really has changed and we can laugh most of it off now instead of me crying at the drop of a hat.  I realized that just because I am the one carrying our child does not mean this is not difficult for him.  No one asks how he is and once Cash is here no one will ask how I am - it's all about the baby ;)

Today my amazing BFF and photographer did some maternity pics.  Not that there are not enough of this belly but we had some images that we knew we wanted to do (that didn't include food).  So tonight we played around a bit in the heat and then a cool refreshing pool.  True friends can wear soaked to the skin white clothing and not feel modest.  I am certain it was not pretty.  We had a great time and soon her Sunday's will be free to be with her family.  I cannot put a value on what these weekly progression shoots have meant to me and how lucky I am she has tolerated it.  Cash will thank you I promise :)

You can view the pics here.

Life is unpredictable but the one true constant thing I have in life is the love for my husband, my best friends and family.  Love really is all you need...

xoxo~

CC

Week 33: Pineapple

This week was a pretty busy week compared to my normal fairly scheduled weeks.  The in-laws arrived on Tuesday and we spent some nice quality time with them.  My mother in law has been knitting some adorable things for Cash and it was great to see that even my father in law is excited.  They say the apple does not fall too far from the tree and this is the case for my husband and father in law.  I am reminded when they visit just how much alike they are.  Guess we will see if Cash is the same.  But I do hope the baby gets some of me in them, I’m not all that bad ;)

I had a check up with the doc this week, unfortunately after a night of eating too much at Amerigo.  So the morning of my appointment I was retaining fluid.  I have a gained a total of 23 lbs and measuring 33 ½ cm.  Dr. E said “You’re doing good kiddo”  I just love her and her matter of fact-ness.  We also had a lake talk.  She told me not to jump in or ride in a speed boat hitting wakes too hard as it could hurt the placenta.  So when we go I will take it easy.  My next visit with her (I have to see a partner next time) she said she will do an ultrasound if Cash is still breech just to check things out.  All and all she said we are just playing the waiting game now and hope baby cooks a bit longer.

Friday night I have an enjoyable evening with the in-laws working on the husband's blown out tire...even though I watched the Jeep almost roll on top of my father-in-law it was a pretty fun night.  Even if I had to pee on the side of the interstate with my mother-in-law holding a blanket so cars driving up the on ramp would not see my preggo butt - haha.

On Saturday my best friends showered Cash and I with love...and there was so much love this day. 

We had so much yummy food, we made 25 onesies for Cash, guests played Bingo while I opened gifts, and we all played some baby trivia.  After all of the merriment and clean up, the ladies hung out by my mom's pool for the rest of the afternoon.  I do love me some spaghetti sauce!! ;)

I have the most generous friends and family.  There are no words to express my gratitude.  BK and JM...thank you from the bottom of my heart for the best day!  Everything was PERFECT.

Well back to watching the hubs put together baby items...happy day :)

xoxoxoxoxo~

CC

Week 32: Jicama

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dad's out there...

Fatherhood...something my love is close to embarking on.  I cannot wait to see him transform to the most wonderful father. I know he has so many hopes and dreams already for our child.  Things may not always be what he envisioned but if we stay connected and show Cash the life we have created together, he or she will fit right into our lives and hearts.  

This week Cash is weighing approximately 3.75 pounds (the size of a large jimaca) and is 16.7 inches long.    I'm supposed to be gaining a pound a week now and half is going to baby.

This weekend my dear friend Wendy hosted our first baby shower.  It was a bit odd to be opening gifts for a baby to be honest and even more strange to bring them home and put them away.  I have sippy cups in my pantry.  Weird.  

The shower was full of sweet friends I have not seen in too long and friends I see every weekday.  We stuffed ourselves on breakfast goodies and everyone made predictions on sex, birth date, weight and length of Cash.  I think some of my friends want to hurt me with a huge and long baby - haha.  It was fun to hear all of the predictions and girl was the most popular choice.  Guess we will find out soon.

Well, back to cleaning for the arrival of my in-laws for the week.

Much love,
CC

Week 31: Four Oranges

This week I celebrated 33 years of my life…and it was a good week.

My celebrations started Monday with lunch with one of my dear friends, Tuesday I had lunch with my dad (and Cash received his/her first UT outfit – yay!), on Wednesday I had lunch with another dear friend, and Thursday (on my actual birthday) I celebrated with an appointment with Dr. E….more on that below.  I also received my favorite cupcakes and a beautiful orchid from my dear friends at work.  Thursday night I celebrated with my sweet husband.  Sadly that was all of our celebration because he was scheduled to work all weekend but he made up for that.  I came home from work to a dozen white roses on the counter and an iPad!!  And we went to Germantown Café for dinner.  It was delish and we had some much needed time together.  As I write this I realize it might be the last real night out just us before our life is changed with the responsibility of a newborn and I am pretty sure between and iPad and my new 50mm lens for my SLR that I will not be getting any more extravagant gifts from the hubby for a long while…at least not the monetary kind.

Friday I had a prenatal massage and went shopping with my mom, Saturday I had pool time with some of my girls, and on Sunday I got to spend some time with my family including little brother.  He had not seen me since December so I am sure my growth was a change, but I am so glad to feel the belly.  I cannot wait to see him with Cash - he is going to make a great uncle, that is if he moves back to TN!  

My check-up with Dr. E went great.  Pretty quick and easy.  I had gained 1 pound from last visit and measured 1 centimeter larger – so a total of 19 lbs and 32 cm.  She is happy with my progress.  After the C-section discussion at our birthing class I did mention to her that 30% of births are C-sections now days.  She said she thought that it was high and they are now putting more of an emphasis on this fact.  From her deliveries of the past 1.5 years, her C-Section rate is 35% but 19% for first time moms.  I am happy she is open to discussing this and her view of C-Sections is to perform them only when is best for mom and baby.  We did discuss when Cash being breech is an issue.  She said at 37 weeks if Cash had not turned we would evaluate our next steps.  Right now I think Cash is just comfortable with his/her position.  I wouldn’t want to be head down that long either!! 

Thanks to all for your support from all across the globe – I am happy to say it has been a much better week and my emotions seem to be more in control.  I hope I have found my own way of coping with them.  I hate to feel needy but the extra love and support makes a huge difference when you do not feel yourself and you doubt the kind of person, wife, friend, daughter, sister you are and doubt what you contribute to the lives’ of the ones you love.

Eat some oranges this week ;)

xoxo~

CC

Week 30: Cabbage

They say pregnancy brings out hormones.  Until this point I have felt in control of mine but this week it has not been going so well.  As Cash is continuing to grow, (weighing in at approximately 3 pounds) I find my emotions are running high especially at home.  I’m afraid if I don’t get control I might cause my husband to avoid me over the next 10 weeks - haha

As the weeks go by and the arrival is getting closer I do have doubts running through my mind – Was this the best time for us to start a family?  Am I ready to be a mother?  Will life ever be normal again?  Will my body ever be normal again?  Will I become this child obsessed mom that drives everyone crazy?  Will our marriage be strained by adding a little one to our family?  Will our friends still want to be around us with a child?  - I pray whatever is causing these doubts works itself out soon or I am going to avoid myself for the rest of my pregnancy…

This weekend we went to our childbirth class.  I did not have any expectations but hoped it would not be a bunch of videos to watch.  I can watch videos at home for free.  Well we did watch quite a few videos.  All and all I enjoyed the class.  I liked visiting the labor and delivery floor so I could wrap my head around where we would be going and how things would be set up.  I also enjoyed some of the relaxation parts, it was nice to be sitting pretty much wrapped up by my husband and just concentrating on breathing.  And although he knows how to give a great massage, there were a few areas he would should to concentrate on that felt wonderful.  Also the infant care was informative, although I am sure they will go over all of it again after the baby is born but it's nice to wrap your head around it now (as well as other things from class) since at the time of delivery emotions will be high and we just might forget it all.

Fun side note about class is there were 10 couples - 5 boys, 4 girls, and one unknown...we would have made it a tie to tipped to scales to boy being the clear winner ;)

After class on Saturday we were starving.  We went downtown to grab an early dinner at South Street. It was a gorgeous afternoon to spend just enjoying each other.  I pray times like these do not go away after Cash is here.  I do not want to be the kind of mother that my whole world revolves around my child.  I believe with all of my heart that a child is second to growing a happy and healthy marriage.  A child can sense unhappiness and any discord would not be good for a family.  So we will be having more nights like this...

After dinner we went to watch my hubby's old band play.  It was great to see them, but one piece was missing from the stage...hopefully he can play with them again soon.  It was fun to be out in the crowd dancing and singing along with the hubs and having Cash enjoy his/her first rock show :) 

Hope all is great in all of your lives...enjoy the nice weather and the ones you love.

Much love,

CC