Friday, November 2, 2012
30 Weeks!
How far along? 30 weeks (but measuring 32 weeks...uh oh)
Countdown: 10 weeks left!
Size: The size of a head of cabbage
Total weight gain: +23 lbs total {Midwife said baby hit a major growth spurt this week...or maybe I ate too much....but since I'm eating the exact same it was probably a growth spurt!}
Maternity clothes? Yes, but still mixing them with some of my regular clothes
Stretch marks? I found a new one, but J says I am imagining it b/c it isn't really there...so who knows
Sleep: Not enough of it and it's taking its toll
Best moment this week: Waking up before J and knowing that only Hudson and I are awake. It is such an incredible bonding experience to have my hand on my stomach and feel him change positions to get more comfortable, or feel the repetition of his baby hiccups...I'm already a gonerMiss Anything? Being able to get comfortable enough to sleep...actually being able to sleep in general
Movement: Lots, especially when I lay down at night for bed and first thing in the morning when it's quiet
Food cravings: I ate almost an entire bag of oranges this week...yikes
Anything making you queasy or sick:Not anymore! If I don't eat then I get a little queasy but I just make sure to have snacks with me constantly
Gender: Baby Boy!
Labor Signs: Braxton hicks especially when exercising/walking
Symptoms: Pregnancy brain, braxton hicks and lower back pain for sure, also the continuation of leaky boob
Belly Button in or out? Barely in...
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Getting more moody...but that is because I'm barely sleeping and have people in my life stressing me out :) It can't be helped
Looking forward to: Thanksgiving!!!! My Mom, Dad, Grandma and Aunt are coming into town and we are going to refinish the dresser for the nursery, attempt to finish the bedding and hopefully hunt for the accessories to top it all off. Along with all the other little projects needing to be done {Like the light hung and the closet finished!}
Next Appointment: November 15! Every 2 weeks!
Okay, so now for the fill in. This was the first time we had seen this particular midwife since 18 weeks {we have 4 different ones that we see, that way when we go into labor there is a familiar face in the delivery room no matter who is on call} and she was excited to learn my previa had completely gone away and my placenta is not even low lying anymore. So she is going on and on about how great I'm doing, blood pressure-GREAT! Previa-GONE! Heartrate-a steady 137-GREAT!
Then she drops a bomb on me and makes a crack that I think was really rude....I have tried very hard my entire pregnancy to eat really healthy to make sure Hudson is getting all of the best nutrition. Sure I have focused a lot on veggies and fruits {mostly veggies} but she makes a crack "Wow you had a spike in your weight this week, that's unusual for you. Did you eat too much Halloween candy?" and that is when I went from happy pregnant lady to...somebody better get this b*tch before I punch her haha. It offended me, instead of making a joke, if it was a concern, talk to me like an adult...don't make a joke about it because I don't think it's funny.
I left feeling horrible about myself...how could I gain 7 lbs in 2 weeks?! I haven't been eating any differently! I immediately called my mom because J just didn't understand, and she helped me realize I wasn't focusing on the the right thing. The midwife did say that I had a spike in weight, but it could be because the baby hit a growth spurt and according to my mom, that is exactly how it happened when she was pregnant with both me and my sister.
We will see in 2 weeks if he is still measuring big and if he is, then she'll order an ultrasound to verify and we will go from there.If he levels off then we know it was because of an eating habit of mine....but honestly, if he is healthy and doing well then I am not concerned with a spike in weight. After sleeping on it and talking with some other pregnant mommy friends...they really helped me to put it into perspective. It will be what it will be and all I can do about it is continue to try to eat as healthy as I can and focus on having an amazing last 10 weeks! Midwife be damned!
{It also helped that one of my mommy friends told me to give her the finger and continue to eat what I wanted within reason...hehe I have the best friends!}
And it started with Meeghan....
For my close friends on Facebook, and family, you all know that since moving to Charlotte J and I got involved in a rescue organization called Dog Days of Charlotte.
For those of you who don't, I am a huge dog lover. Pretty much all animals in general, but dogs hold a special place in my heart. They have their own personalities, quirks and mannerisms. They love unconditionally and get their feelings hurt, just like you and I.
The thing that dogs don't do? Dogs don't hold grudges....
They love you when you scold them, when you play with them and when you love them. To me, it's the purest kind of love.
This is how we acquired our dog, Meeghan. I say acquired because it really was a Foster 101 FAIL. She was our very first foster with this group and it was something we had never done before. We volunteered to take any of the dogs the group was pulling that week and they placed us with Meeghan. At the time, she was 7 months old and completely petrified of everything.
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| Meet Meeghan. This was taken on her Euthanization Date Also the day that she was "pulled" from the shelter and placed in our home...where she would stay FURever |
See this foster group pulls dogs from shelters here in the South that are considered "High Kill", some of the shelters down here still gas dogs. And if that isn't written in plain enough text, they put the dogs in gas chambers until they die, sometimes it takes multiple times...feeling sick yet? I'll get on to the happy part...
Meeghan chose us. She was supposed to head up to a rescue in Pennsylvania...the demand for dogs is much higher in the North and they have "No Kill" shelters. This group places dogs who we can't find Furever homes for, in rescues knowing that they will find amazing homes for these amazing animals.
Her transport came and went and for whatever reason, Meeghan stayed behind every time. She was the type of puppy who cowered in the corner, balled up as tightly as she could be. We picked her up to take her outside {thankfully in our fenced in back yard} then picked her up to bring her back in because she was so petrified of people that she froze...dead weight with all limbs tucked firmly underneath her shaking body.
Every night J carried her up to our bedroom and placed her at the foot of our bed where we would shower her with attention and kisses hoping that she would allow us in to her little world...to just love her. I tear up writing this post because it makes me sick to think about where she came from, what her story could be. My heart broke for her every time someone stood up too quickly or raised their hands for a high five, what kind of person would treat an animal so poorly that someone standing made her petrified?
When her last transport finally came, she had just chosen us. She finally was making progress and letting us in slowly but surely. She could finally go out side on her own...but only if we opened the door and went into the other room. She never had accidents, never misbehaved, never chewed...and when the time came for us to coordinate a meet up to drop her off J and I cried like babies. Knowing that she had come so far and she would have to start all over with someone else...maybe someone without other dogs {she was so attached to Diogi and Noli, our other 2 dogs} and maybe with a family who didn't have the patience to let Meeghan love them the way they wanted in the time they wanted.
We spent hours crying, I can't even count the hours of discussion. The next day I called the group....and I said those words....I can't give her up. She has to stay with us....
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| Told you she liked her toys! |
Today she is almost 3 years old, loves people, her toys, walks, playing fetch with her ball, and sleeping side by side with her brother, our husky Diogi. She no longer cowers in the corner or shies away from people wanting to pet her, we have a designated cuddle time every day when I get home from work where she hugs my neck and puts her head under my chin so I can give her kisses at the notch where her nose meets her face. We take her to restaurants where she lays contently under my feet on her leash waiting for a handout because I'm a softy. If you ask anyone in our family, she has made a 400% improvement, I oftentimes hear "This can't be the same dog" or "She is a completely different dog!"
This is why the group does what they do. So that dogs like Meeghan who would have been put down because she was "Shy on intake" got a second chance....we were her second chance...
I'm posting this link so if you can't foster but would like to contribute, it's here. Every little bit helps. And if you are in the Charlotte area and would like more information on the foster program, you can visit their website or their Facebook. The group provides you with everything you would need to foster, a kennel, collar, leash and even food. In turn they also take donations of these items! So if you're looking for a GREAT cause...there is none better...
Friday, October 26, 2012
What's yo name gurrllll
There are so many names out there, how do you chose which one is right for your child? I mean...it will only be his or her name....for the rest.of.his.life.
No pressure....
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| Our baby's name? Saw it on Pintrest! |
Growing up with a "strangely" spelled name was frustrating. On field trips all the other kids were able to get the key chains with their names on them...and back in the 80's and early 90s...key chains were a big deal people! If you didn't have 50 on your backpack, you simply weren't cool. Not only could I never find things with my name on them, but people always and still to this day, mispronounce my name. If I got even a penny for the number of times I get called Holly or Huh-lee like I am some foreigner...I would be a...somewhat rich woman!
So when I knew I was going to marry J J and I started talking kids, I made a spreadsheet. {Yes I know I'm a little AR but who actually enjoys being disorganized??}One page for boy names, and one for girl's names. On each page I did separate columns for first names and middle names.....I had to see what they would look like side by side! I put on names that I saw on baby sites, names I heard in passing, names I saw in baby name books or novels, and names I had loved since I was a child.
I had already narrowed down the names that I loved more than all the others, but when J and I found out we were expecting it was so amazing sitting down to that spreadsheet I had spent too much time on...and saying these are the two winners-one boy name, one girl name. It wasn't stressful like a lot of my friends have said it was, it was good knowing that J trusted me and knew I had done my research. {We tried to stay away from names that were on the top 100 lists or that we thought were over used}But at the end of the day, any time I heard a name or saw a name that I absolutely loved I would ask him what he thought about it...and it was either vetoed for being too weird or placed on the spreadsheet so we would never forget it!
When working on the spreadsheet I really got to say, "what will his initials be" "what will his potential nicknames be" "will he sound like a cute little baby boy when he is an adult trying to get a real job?" {I had a guy friend growing up whose initials were A.S.S.....needless to say, he was teased}. So we considered spelling, initials, nicknames, the whole nine.
Why talk about this topic, you ask? Well because I get email updates from a few different baby type websites. The email that sparked this post? "What Baby Name Suites You". That seemed a little ironic to me because the name shouldn't fit me...it should fit our son...but I couldn't resist.
Here's what my "test results" said...
You seem to be a pretty active person and an independent thinker who likes doing
instead of just talking. If you want your child to be strong-minded and
leave his or her mark on the world, you should consider baby names that
people associate with being creative, smart, active, and strong.T
How do you or did you pick your baby's name?
How do you or did you pick your baby's name?
Blogging Hazzard
Okay, I want to start this lovely little posty post off apologizing. Blogging when you're grumpy....is a blogging hazzard.
The day I wrote my 29 week post? I was a little extremely grumpy...
I could use this opportunity to vent again about all the reasons I was grumpy but....there's no point. I went to bed at 7:30pm last night and am feeling completely refreshed.
So this is my formal apology :) Sowwy guyssss
I promise to try to only post when I am not extremely grumpy
So...since that blogging hazzard I have a few funny commentaries between Hubby and I, enjoy....
Me: *plops on couch* ugh I.am.so.exhausted. Today seriously felt like the longest day ever and if I don't get normal sleep soon, I'm really going to lose my shit
Husband: Why are you so exhausted?
Me:........you can't be serious?
Me: oooo are you getting milk?
Husband: No, I got some eggnog at the store
Me: Ew, I never liked eggnog. I think my dad used to put Crown Royal in it
Husband: Ew, now that's gross
Me: Let me smell it...maybe I will try it when this parasite...I mean baby comes out
Husband: ....
Me: Oh my gosh I'm going to throw up, that smells disgusting
Husband: It smells fine....it smells like eggnog
Me: Do not breathe on me....go upstairs right now and brush your nasty eggnog breath
You're welcome :)
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
29 weeks...holy cow that's 7 months
I am still really enjoy being pregnant except for the insane back pain, inability to sleep, exhaustion and new this week? More leaky boob {which I guess technically isn't new}. Sorry I'm not sorry for the overshare.This week also brought to you by the letter B...for breakout because that is what is happening on one section of my face....which never happens to me...ugh see....ticket needed to complain town...STAT
How far along? 29 weeks
Size: The size of a butternut squash
Total weight gain: +16 lbs total
Maternity clothes? Yes, but still mixing them with some of my regular clothes
Stretch marks? Same--using a coco butter oil, still only the 2 on my left side.
Sleep: Not enough of it
Best moment this week: Reading an entire book on Sunday
Miss Anything? My boobs NOT leaking...being able to see my toes when I look down...being able to get comfortable enough to sleep...actually being able to sleep in general
Movement: Lots, especially when I lay down at night for bed.
Food cravings: Actually butternut squash soup sounds really delish....
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| Sneaky peak of maternity pics |
Gender: Baby Boy!
Labor Signs: Braxton hicks and last night I was getting a weird cramping in my lower back that went away once I laid down
Symptoms: Pregnancy brain, braxton hicks and lower back pain for sure, also the continuation of leaky boob, round ligament pain (that scared the poo out of me yesterday) a localized breakout on my face, and some others that I refuse to go into-sorry
Belly Button in or out? Barely in...
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Getting more moody...but that is because I'm barely sleeping
Looking forward to: Sleeping this weekend. I have no plans except to do a friend's makeup for a halloween party, other than that, my butt isn't getting out of bed! And that decision is final. Ohhh! And, a friend is popping by to take a few maternity pictures!
Next Appointment: November 1!
Liebster Award....oh you shouldn't have!
Liebster Award rules:
1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.
2. Answer the 11 questions the tagger has set for you, and then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.
3. Choose 11 bloggers [with less than 200 followers] to pass the award to and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them about the award.
5. No tag backs!
Random facts about me:
1. This is a wopper....I am a huge control freak. And I swear it's genetic.....sorry Momma...I'm callin' you out!
1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.
2. Answer the 11 questions the tagger has set for you, and then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.
3. Choose 11 bloggers [with less than 200 followers] to pass the award to and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them about the award.
5. No tag backs!
Random facts about me:
1. This is a wopper....I am a huge control freak. And I swear it's genetic.....sorry Momma...I'm callin' you out!
2. I was a compulsive nervous nail biter until right before J and I got married...then one day....I just stopped.
3. Sometimes I am too sarcastic for my own good and people don't understand....oftentimes J has to ask me if I'm joking or if I'm actually serious....
4. I absolutely hate the word moist. It makes my skin crawl. *shudders*
5. I probably shouldn't but sometimes I poke my belly to see if Hudson is still alive and will kick me back....which leads me to my next random fact
6. I am petrified of friends, family, animals dying around me.Two weeks ago One time my Daddy was asleep in his chair and I purposefully tripped then coughed to wake him up slash see if he was breathing...sorry Dad haha. Oh and sometimes I'll poke the dogs with my feet....you know...just to make sure...
7. This sort of coincides with fact 1....I have to have a plan. I cannot go into a situation without knowing exactly what I need to be prepared and what will happen...in timeline format. J sometimes gets really annoyed because I will ask him 20 times what the plan is....and if he doesn't have one I keep asking until he does....and most of the time {as he now tells me} he just makes something up so I'll leave it alone....which usually appeases me until things don't happen exactly that way....then I panic and lose my shit :)
8. I have to have my toenails painted at all times. One day I hadn't repainted them after I took off the polish and J asked "What's wrong with your toes"....that should tell you something about my obsession with having my toes painted.
9. I am super girly but take me out in a boat and you better be ready for a "who can catch the biggest fish first" competition. Fishing is my weakness...but don't ask me to hunt....
10. I have tattoos...and I love them. I have a side piece that goes from my arm pit down to my hip bone, a tribute to my grandpa, Pop Pop who passed from pancreatitis very suddenly back in 2007 and some other small ones-but that is by far my favorite and the most meaningful....If I wasn't worried about how they would look as I got older I am sure that I would get more daring ones on my arms/wrists/back of neck....but for now...I'll stick for the ones that can be hidden if I so choose.
11. I have a super high pain tolerance. When I was little, my sister and I decided to "Wash" a mirror that was leaned up against a tree, needless to say it broke and we both had to get stitches. My sister...well she had to be put in one of those straight jacket things and me? I asked them to prop me up so I could watch
Questions from Lindsey:
1. What was your favorite vacation?
3. Sometimes I am too sarcastic for my own good and people don't understand....oftentimes J has to ask me if I'm joking or if I'm actually serious....
4. I absolutely hate the word moist. It makes my skin crawl. *shudders*
5. I probably shouldn't but sometimes I poke my belly to see if Hudson is still alive and will kick me back....which leads me to my next random fact
6. I am petrified of friends, family, animals dying around me.
7. This sort of coincides with fact 1....I have to have a plan. I cannot go into a situation without knowing exactly what I need to be prepared and what will happen...in timeline format. J sometimes gets really annoyed because I will ask him 20 times what the plan is....and if he doesn't have one I keep asking until he does....and most of the time {as he now tells me} he just makes something up so I'll leave it alone....which usually appeases me until things don't happen exactly that way....then I panic and lose my shit :)
8. I have to have my toenails painted at all times. One day I hadn't repainted them after I took off the polish and J asked "What's wrong with your toes"....that should tell you something about my obsession with having my toes painted.
9. I am super girly but take me out in a boat and you better be ready for a "who can catch the biggest fish first" competition. Fishing is my weakness...but don't ask me to hunt....
10. I have tattoos...and I love them. I have a side piece that goes from my arm pit down to my hip bone, a tribute to my grandpa, Pop Pop who passed from pancreatitis very suddenly back in 2007 and some other small ones-but that is by far my favorite and the most meaningful....If I wasn't worried about how they would look as I got older I am sure that I would get more daring ones on my arms/wrists/back of neck....but for now...I'll stick for the ones that can be hidden if I so choose.
11. I have a super high pain tolerance. When I was little, my sister and I decided to "Wash" a mirror that was leaned up against a tree, needless to say it broke and we both had to get stitches. My sister...well she had to be put in one of those straight jacket things and me? I asked them to prop me up so I could watch
Questions from Lindsey:
1. What was your favorite vacation?
Hmm it's really hard to choose, but one summer in high school my family rented a house in the keys for an entire month. (We usually only spent a week or two down there so the month was amazing) We fished and caught lobster almost every day and spent the evenings after cooking what we caught in Key West at Mallory Square enjoying the music and culture....I spent lots of hours on the phone that summer with J actually...
2. What is something you've done that not many other people have done?
2. What is something you've done that not many other people have done?
My dad, sister and I did a night dive on a family vacation in Curacao, Mexico. The best part? I was a little all over the place so I was the guide's "buddy" and we found an octopus. She had me put my hand on the rock where he was sitting and he climbed up my arm--coolest experience EVER
3. Are you an iPhone user? Would you have it any other way?
Yes and absolutely not!!! I used to be team blackberry but....I'm a traitor and am obsessed.
Yes and absolutely not!!! I used to be team blackberry but....I'm a traitor and am obsessed.
4. Are you a homebody or someone who needs to be out and about all the time?
J and I are definitely homebodies. I used to be super social and have to be out all.the.time but something changed when I got back from living in Italy....I just wanted to spend time at home together.
5. Is there something you're looking forward to in the near future?
Bringin' this baby home!! And finishing the nursery....not in this order haha
5. Is there something you're looking forward to in the near future?
Bringin' this baby home!! And finishing the nursery....not in this order haha
6. What is one of the best books you've read?
That's a really tough question. I read...a lot. So recently....the best book I have read is Now You See Her by James Patterson...seriously...go read it....right now
That's a really tough question. I read...a lot. So recently....the best book I have read is Now You See Her by James Patterson...seriously...go read it....right now
7. What is something you know you shouldn't spend money on, but often find yourself doing anyway?
This could potentially be a very long list.....but I'll give you the shortened answer of shoes/clothes.
This could potentially be a very long list.....but I'll give you the shortened answer of shoes/clothes.
8. What is your favorite thing to cook? Care to share the recipe?
I have a killer Baked Ziti Recipe...I can email to whomever would like it...it is seriously delish and super super easy!
I have a killer Baked Ziti Recipe...I can email to whomever would like it...it is seriously delish and super super easy!
9. Do you buy lottery tickets?
No...but I really should! Especially those, $$ a week for life ones!
10. What is the thing you miss about home the most when you're on vacation?
Not worrying about what I forgot. I told you I'm a control freak....packing stresses me out.
11. What is your favorite thing about the holidays?
The smells. For Thanksgiving it's apple cider with oranges, cinnamon and allspice and Christmas...it's allll BALSAM...I'm slightly obsessed.
My nominees: (I don't have 11...sorry guys...all my other blogger peeps have well over 200 fans)
1. Artsee Fartsee
2. Keepin up with the Johnstons
3. Our Family Perspective
4. A Prince and Prozac
5. Tiffany and Chad in Real Life
6. Priester's Peace
Questions for my nominees:
1. Who's your biggest celebrity crush?
2. What is something you completely dread doing?
3. If you had to define your style, what would you say?
4. Chocolate or vanilla?
5. What's your go to outfit? Something maybe you have had in your closet for years and just can't let go of...
5. What's your go to outfit? Something maybe you have had in your closet for years and just can't let go of...
6. Your favorite room in your home...and why?
7. If you could change absolutely anything in your house, what would it be?
8. Dogs or cats?
9. What is your best childhood memory?
10. Live on the edge or play it safe?
11. What is the one thing in your life that you have wanted the most? Whether you already have it or are still trying to get it!
Now chop chop...don't dilly dally :)
9. What is your best childhood memory?
10. Live on the edge or play it safe?
11. What is the one thing in your life that you have wanted the most? Whether you already have it or are still trying to get it!
Now chop chop...don't dilly dally :)
Friday, October 19, 2012
28 Weeks...helloooo third trimester!
The downstairs powder room {half bath} is painted and has the stripes-I'll be doing another post shortly to show you how it turned out! {For those of you who don't follow my Instagram}. I found a new mirror and am in love with the new look-so keep an eye out for that post!
I have also just completed the hunt for a dresser for the nursery! Thanks to my fabulous friend, C who helped when I felt like all hope was lost. My mom is on me like a fly on...well you know the saying...about painting SO that project will be waiting until around Thanksgiving when my parents will be here to help me refinish that sucker! I'll share pictures and the full dresser hunt story then :)
And now the moment you have all been waiting for...{I know you're on the edge of your seat here....}
How far along? 28 weeks- Helllooooo last trimester!
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| 28 Weeks |
Size: Ultrasound said 2lbs 8oz, right on track!
Total weight gain: +16 lbs total (oops!)Maternity clothes? Yes, but still mixing them with some of my regular clothes
Stretch marks? Same--using a coco butter oil, still only the 2 on my left side.
Sleep: Starting to get verrrrryyy uncomfortable. Hudson has moved from Transverse {side to side} to head down which is heaven on my tail bone...{can you hear the sarcasm?}
Best moment this week: Passing the O'Sullivan {Gestational Diabetes} Test, watching how his kicks and jerks have now turned into more fluid motions under my skin
Miss Anything? My memory....wait...what were you asking?
Movement: Enjoying every minute of it....until Josh tries to watch or feel, then he stops...of course right?
Food cravings: Baked potatoes with all the good stuff, even though I can only eat a few bites before I feel stuffed
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| Hudson at 28 weeks: 2lbs 8oz.and healthy! |
Gender: Baby Boy!
Labor Signs: Starting to notice the braxton hicks more often... especially when walking
Symptoms: Pregnancy brain, braxton hicks and lower back pain for sure
Belly Button in or out? Barely in...
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Getting more moody...but that is because I'm barely sleeping
Looking forward to: Our next midwife appointment, we start going every 2 weeks now!
Next Appointment: November 1!
I brought the picture into my place of employment and those who do not have kids have had a difficult time figuring out what this picture was...one even said "that looks like a waterfall"...ohhhkayyy. So this picture is of Hudson's profile, aka the side of his face. The top of his head to the right of the screen and that little bump in the middle facing the top? That would be his nose :)
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