13 Weeks To Go (27 Weeks)

Every day I talk about, dream about, and get more and more anxious to meet Susie Crocodile...I mean, Farrah Oakley!  (Susie Crocodile is McCoy's latest choice of names for Farrah.)  I keep imagining life with her, and it excites me to no end.  I love seeing the light at the end of the tunnel -- only 13 weeks left until she arrives!! 

Cravings: All foods.  And water.


Aversions: None.


Symptoms: Leg cramps in the middle of the night.  I used to get these occasionally, I think from wearing heels at work.  This past week I have been getting them extremely severely in the middle of the night, usually when I wake up and stretch or move my legs.  I have to get out of bed, and if standing doesn't cure it, I have to walk it off, message it, and pray that it goes away.  When I can finally manage to walk like a normal person, I make it to the kitchen to chug a glass or two of water and take my prenatal vitamin.


Restless Leg Syndrome.  Frequent trips to the restroom.  Strong sense of smell.  Sleepiness.


Mood: This week I have been pretty sleepy, and it doesn't help the weather has been dreary.  I am feeling more lazy, and usually I like to go-go-go. 


Missing: I'm loving growing our baby inside me so I can't hardly say that I miss my body because this body is temporary and so worth it.  But I do miss things about my old body -- movement, clothes fitting normally, walking/bending/sitting with ease, etc.


Break-down: No break-downs surprisingly.  I mean, I cried during Grey's Anatomy which isn't usual of this non-crier, but these episodes lately have a lot to do with pregnancies, births, and newborns, and it's a really terrible time for those to be aired for this pregnant momma.


Excited for: I normally would have a doctor's appointment next Friday (28 weeks) but I had previously scheduled an appointment on a day that my mom and I could spend the day together, so I don't have an appointment until 29 weeks, and then I will be seeing my doctor every other week until 36 weeks, at which time it changes to weekly!  I'm excited to be this far along in my pregnancy...and that much closer to having our sweet baby!


I am also excited to start on Farrah's baby room.  We have a few nursery items, including the most important -- the crib!!  Next on my agenda...pick out a paint color, and transition the older kids to their temporarily shared bedroom.


Body changes: My belly button is still in.  My wedding ring still fits perfectly.  I don't have any stretch marks.


Sleep: This week I have been exhausted so I have been sleeping well, with several trips to the potty throughout the night, and the leg cramps I talked about.  Rolling over takes a lot of effort, as does "rolling" out of bed.


Movement: So...I hear and read a lot from other moms who are feeling a lot of movement by this time.  I feel movement often, but it's not extremely big movements for the most part.  I feel a lot of the "gurgling" feeling inside.  I, by no means, can feel certain body parts or have the baby respond to my movements.  I have also been reading a lot about Braxton Hicks contractions.  I am not complaining, but I haven't had anything like that yet.

14 Weeks To Go (26 Weeks)

Today is the first day of Spring!  Now that this beautiful weather has graced itself, we have been getting outside more, which is exciting in itself, and it has allowed me to walk and get more physical exercise.


Farrah is opening her eyes now!!  She weighs approximately 2 pounds.  This week has been teaching myself better food discipline, like saying no to the delicious blueberry waffles with butter and syrup and a glass of milk that was calling my name late in the evening.

Now, moving on to Week 27, the last week of my second trimester!

Cravings: Everything sounds really good, but I'm being more conscious of what I eat and drink.  Like I said, blueberry waffles were calling my name, as were instant mashed potatoes and brown gravy (which I did make those).  I have been experiencing with healthier snacks such as banana & oats cookies, and peanut butter & oats bars.

Symptoms: Peeing when sneezing.  Peeing all the time.  Heightened sense of smell.  A serious sharp pain in my back earlier this week, which has been feeling better after adjusting my sleeping position.  Being exhausted, tired, and worn out at the day's end.  Sleeplessness.  Heartburn.  RLS. 

Mood: Sleepy.  Good otherwise.  Maybe slightly anxious.

Excited for: All things baby.  I shopped in the baby section at Target the other day and had to force myself away from all of the adorable little outfits, headbands, bibs, etc.  How sweet it all is.  I ended up not getting anything yet, because I want to wait until after our shower to find out what we really need.  Then it's on because I can't hardly resist getting my hands on tiny baby girl things for Farrah!  Okay, so I did break down and buy her a few items I found on sale online...including this adorable onesie and some headbands.

Body changes: Trying to get used to my belly resting on my legs when sitting.  Trying to find things to wear that fit.  My belly button is still in.

Sleep: With a blanket (Farrah's baby blankets) under my belly and a pillow or Keane's legs in between my knees, I have been sleeping fairly comfortably.  But I tell you, it's a chore in itself to roll over or roll out of bed.  Some nights I experience insomnia -- I just lay there wide awake.  I'm convinced that these sleepless nights are what will keep the baby waking up throughout the night after she is born because she will be so used to Mommy waking up several times each night, ha.  Last night I had two, separate, leg/foot cramps that brought me to the floor.

Movement: My doctor said I should start feeling her more and more.  If I had to guess, I might say that my placenta may be moving to my left side, because I seem to feel movements more on my right side.  The movements this week feel like large thumps that make my whole belly move.  I love any movement in there that I feel.  If what I feel sometimes is her doing a flip or turning around, it's the weirdest feeling ever.  I feel like I need to help her flip, but there's nothing that I can do but sit and wait.  Overall, I wish I felt her move and kick more.  I think I'm limited in feeling a lot of those movements still.  However, by this week's end, the movements have been more often.  Thursday morning while still laying in bed, she was kicking hard so I had Keane feel her and he laughed out loud.  Oh, sweet Farrah, we love you already.  Her most active times are mid-morning and when laying in bed at night and first thing in the morning.

Baby Room Planning: I have the entire room planned out in my head and I cannot wait to get started!  Light grey walls and this grey crib that Lindsay has lovingly purchased for Farrah (and it's already been shipped, eek!).

I ordered and received these curtains (in petal) because they were on sale (although these would have been my first choice).  In person they are adorable and of such a great quality.

Baby Items: Our first real baby item came in the mail yesterday - this lamb edition Rock 'n Play from Lindsay!  I cannot wait to put it together and have something ready for Baby Farrah!

A few weeks ago, we also received some beautiful, homemade burp rags from Jean, a grandmother to one of the boys on Kaden's basketball team.  I have felt so very blessed since receiving such a special gift.  It really warms my heart to know people who are so kind and generous in nature, who took the time to make our baby something by hand.  Those will be cherished.

25 Weeks

Your daddy says he hopes you look like me. This means everything to me. I hope you do too but I can't wait to see what traits of your daddy you have too. I picture you having his brown eyes.

You know what...pregnancy is weird.  I love it, don't get me wrong.  I am definitely one that would fit in the "love being pregnant" category.  But I'm growing a baby.  And not only that, but I'm wearing it.  I'm wearing a baby.  I'm carrying a baby in my belly for nine months.  I know it hasn't always been the size of a baby, and right now at 25 weeks my baby is about 1 1/2 pounds, but she will be 5 pounds, 6 pounds, 7 pounds, and some babies even get to 8 pounds, 9 pounds... before birth!


There are so many weird things that happen that I don't even put on my blog.  Things like leaking colostrum, feeling baby kicks right in the butt hole (I'm not even kidding), the skin around my belly button hurting at times, constantly finding dropped food or toothpaste on my belly.  Things concerning our unborn baby are constantly on our minds, and at the same time, it has all became our new norm.


Although it's weird, it's also amazing.  Kylie said, "Dad, isn't it crazy that your wife has a baby in her belly?!"


My baby is kind of like a fish right now -- Farrah is breathing and eating fluid (amniotic fluid).  What does she do all day, every day, besides nap, and wiggle?  Is she thinking about anything?  Does she like it when I talk, play music for her, and sing to her?  Or does she prefer when it's quiet and I'm sleeping?  Can she feel me when I rub my belly, or when I sway back and forth?  I know she can taste the things I eat now, but what does she like to taste?


Today I had a doctor's appointment and my doctor is a little concerned or surprised with my weight gain in the last month.  I have gained a total of 22 pounds, 11 in the last month.  My blood pressure was 130/75 and Farrah's heart rate was 154.


Cravings: Nothing in particular this week.


Symptoms: Backaches, being sleepy again, RLS, peeing often.


Mood: I've been tired, and maybe a little irritable when I'm ready for bed.  This may be due to the time change.


Missing: I'm not really missing alcohol - which is surprising and good.  Although Keane said Budlight has three new flavors: cinnamon, fruit punch, and another.  I miss being able to sip on something fun, especially this week now that the sun is out and the feeling of spring is in the air.  Sitting on the deck while Keane sips on a beer, or making supper while Keane sips on red wine that he added into steak fajitas....these are times I wish I could sip on something.  But grape juice and frozen virgin daiquiris will definitely suffice.


Excited for: The baby shower next month!  And baby items -- Keane purchased these adorable shorts for Farrah this week!

Body changes: No changes really, besides growing a bigger, rounder belly.  My belly button is still in, although I think it's on it's way out.


Sleep: Sleep is always interesting.  It usually ends up with me waking a few times throughout the night to pee, and unfortunately, I only have two safe sleeping positions: my left side and my right side.  Not that on my back and on my stomach add that many more options, but it kind of does.  Then there's our cat, who feels the need to cuddle next to our legs, as in always touching us.


I have been sick with a cold this past week, so that hasn't helped my sleeping either, but I think that is finally on the uphill.


The other night I had a lengthy dream about Farrah.  In my dream I gave birth to her (in our bed, easily, without even a push - ha).  She was so soft and gorgeous.  And smily.  I took so many pictures of her in my dream.  And I held her so much.  Right after she was born, I said to her, "Farrah, you're over there and I'm over here."  It was a strange concept for me since right now she is always with me.  Then in my dream I couldn't find her and I started to freak out and Keane laughed and said "She's right here," and he had our tiny baby in his arms.  I loved the dream, and I love our baby girl.  I am so excited to meet her in 3 1/2 months!


Movement: For about a week, she was on my right side and we could feel and see her kick every time I laid on my side.  She has since repositioned and I feel her sometimes in the middle, yet still very low and not as often.  My doctor said I will begin to feel her more, and that I should be feeling her at least once every day.  At 28 weeks, I will begin to monitor her movements, so she better pick up her kicking game to help her momma out.

24 Weeks

Dear Farrah,


You are growing, I am growing.  And something amazing has really developed this week.  Your daddy and I can FEEL you!  You are bigger and stronger now.  I used to feel a "thumping" and I thought that as I felt you more and more, it would just be a stronger or bigger "thump."  Instead, it's completely different.  You're in a particular spot and you push out, just as if we would push in and poke you!  And you move again, and again, and again in the same spot.  And then sometimes you move and we can follow your movements.  It's amazing.  I decided the other day that during this pregnancy, feeling you is the next best thing to seeing you in the ultrasounds.


Then I realized I can see you now, too.  I see you in the beautiful, perfectly round belly I carry with me.  I can look at my belly when you are moving, and I can see you moving.  It's beautiful to me.  You're so beautiful to me.


This week I keep feeling like my body is trying to fight off a cold/sickness.  I would love to have a nap each morning around 10:00, and I like snacks every couple of hours.


Cravings: Chocolate milk, brownies, chocolate cake.


Aversions: None.


Symptoms: Raised body temperature (I'm always warm and kicking off blankets and keeping the heat turned lower than what's normal for me), back aches (lumbar support is a necessity), trouble sleeping, occasional heartburn.


Mood: My mood is much more stable this week.


Missing: Being limber, flexible, and able to move more easily.


Excited for: My doctor's appointment next week.


Body changes: I can still fit in some jeans, although I obviously can't button them, at all, but I wear them with a belly band.  I don't have any stretch marks, and my belly button is still an "innie," and can stay that way if it is up to me.


Sleep: My sleeping experience isn't the best.  I usually wake up to pee a couple times each night.  Luckily my side of the bed is directly next to our bathroom.  I can't roll over and cuddle with Keane like I used to do, and I wake up often with insomnia.  "Why am I not tired right now when I know I will not want to get up in a couple hours?!"


Movement: Oh, she's moving and I love it!  I was beginning to question how I would be able to go the next four months anxiously awaiting her arrival, but now I know.  It's like she went from little thumps to big movement! Pretty much anytime I want to feel her, I can.  And so can Daddy!  It's my favorite when I can feel her move from one spot to another.