36 weeks brings a Midwife Appointment, a Baby Shower, and an Empathy Belly!

To kick off week 36 I had my weekly appointment with our midwife. Everything is looking fantastic :) I had my strep B test, and will get those results back this week. Baby boy is head down and has dropped (THANK GOD I CAN BREATH AGAIN). I am not dilated or effaced at all, and Baby's heart beat is 140. It looks like I will be pregnant for at least a week longer.

Then I went into work for my awesome team to throw me a baby shower! It was such a great afternoon getting even the guys involved in baby talk and diaper decorating :)

I got some awesome gifts, and my management team gave us a gift card to get the last big item that we need from our registry before baby gets here!

Thank you again to everyone who came and who made it special!

Oh and outside of gifts my AMAZING supervisor Carolyn got me a snow cone machine! John was a trooper and made snow cones for the shower... if he ever doesn't make it as a caseworker the Snow Shack would be lucky to have him ;)

I only had 2... well 3, but the 3rd one was small ;)



My sweet friend Nicole has been such a blessing of support through my whole pregnancy, and she was the one to take charge of planning the shower. Her creativity shined in the cute decor and fun food and games

That evening was our 4th Birthing class! It was the best class so far, because this week Michael got the pleasure of being pregnant too :) Our teacher wrapped his chest in a tight band to make it hard to breath, then put a heated belly with an attachment to squish his bladder on him. Then he got to pick things up, lay down then get back up, and other fun pregnancy trials :)

I ended the day cuddled up watching the lighting storm (which is one of my favorite things)

 with my baby daddy! It really was a wonderful day!

 I am glad everything is staying so happy through this pregnancy I feel very blessed!

35 Weeks!!!!

I had my 35 week appointment with my midwife this morning, and from now on I will go every week! Baby is measuring at exactly 35 weeks ,and his heartbeat is strong at 140. They tested my blood again for anemia to check my iron, and I will find out later this week how that is. I am probably still anemic, but she wants to make it is not getting any worse seeing it was very low when they put me on the iron supplements. She also started me on meds that I have to take because of a medical condition pre-pregnancy this week, so that will come with some side effects… yay. All in all everything is looking perfect in the pregnancy world. I have all the normal highs, excitement, discomforts, and worries!

We had our 3rd birthing (Lamaze) class last night and it is wonderful. We learned a lot about the actual labor process which gave Mike and I a lot to talk about to decide what we want the day we meet our boy! Then we learned lots of comforts and massage techniques for daddy to use to help me through the next few weeks, labor, and post pardon. Mike is one of the most comforting people naturally, but it was great to have the opportunity at each station to talk about what helped, and what I didn’t like.

This last weekend I went into holy cow I am having a baby in a few weeks, and have so much to do before he is born mode!! It not that I think he is going to be born licking the floor boards, but I want everything clean! We deep cleaned the house and garage. I cleaned out all the cabinets, stalked the guestroom and bathroom for anyone who visits, caught up on any laundry like blankets and towels that get put off, started packing our hospital bags (I will post about these separately), and mostly finished the nursery (I will post about these separately) & baby gear set up!

Here is our Swing/ bouncy for downstairs
and
Playpen/Basinet for next to our bed when his is brand new

Mike being the great husband he is got me a Groupon for someone else to come in and deep clean the bathrooms, kitchen, and dust the whole house :)
I have 2 baby showers this coming week, and then I think I will be ready for whenever Baby Reece is ready to make his entrance into this world! Jenna was born at 35 weeks, so this is officially the longest I have been pregnant before! That is almost terrifying to think about. I can’t believe how fast this is going! Please keep me and baby boy in your prayers these coming weeks... oh and Mike who gets to deal with nesting and constant calming my worries ;)

My Airman is home and Our 27 week Midwife appointment

My Husband is finally home! It's amazing how complete I feel when he is home! We go right back into being this well oiled machine I don't know how I do things when he is gone! Thursday afternoon we picked him up from the airport! The kids were so excited :) they hid behind a trash can and then attacked him as he walked through the doors! We took the kids to go get snow cones (mostly because baby wanted one), and then went home for a quite dinner at home just the 4 1/2 of us ;) Daddy and the kids played football while I watched my heart felt so full it could burst! That night daddy got to feel his baby and even see baby move around the bump :) it was the most wonderful bonding moment for the 3 of us! I love that whenever we cuddle now he gets to feel our baby!

The next day Mike spent the day with his girl swimming and playing basketball! She counted down $1 bills for each day he was gone for them to use to go on a date with when he got back :)

That night was just me and my man! We always go to the melting pot for our Anniversary... yes it's a few weeks away, but we have other plans that weekend so we figured why not start the celebrating early. We had other plans, but ended up just talking all night! It was so perfect! I feel like we stay close while he is gone, but there is nothing like being next to your best friend to make you feel so safe and loved!

Saturday we got to sleep in and have breakfast in bed which is one of our favorite weekend traditions! Then we picked up Thing 2 to go see Thing 1's soccer game! After we went to lunch and for a walk to enjoy the sunshine!

Sunday was our gender party here is the link

Baby Reece's Gender Reveal Party

I posted about that! It was perfect, and I happy beyond words to be giving my husband a son! Though I did tell him seeing Jenna is a daddy's girl 100% our little guy will be a mommy's boy ;)

Here is some of the fun notes our friends left for us on diapers at our party!

Monday was equally as great! We went to breakfast at our favorite place that morning before our appointment, but our Midwife got called to Labor and delivery so we rescheduled for afternoon! I am so ok with that, because I plan to do the same thing to someone in a few months ;)

At the appointment she measured me and the bump is measuring at 29 weeks! I told Mike I was big :) Our Midwife says that its totally normal, and we may just have a tall boy which daddy is all to pleased about!

His heart beat is perfect and all is great on the pregnancy front! My next appointment I will be checked for Gestational Diabetes... I am so glad Mike will be there to keep me company :) Again I am loving having my baby daddy home!

That evening seeing we now know we are having a boy we registered! We went to Burlington 1st but didn't like their selection, so we went to Babies R US! It was so much fun I am not going to lie! Big sister loved getting to be a part of the whole thing and loved the scan gun! My favorite part was all the cute little things, Jenna's was baby toys, and Mike literally read safety ratings on everything we picked lol

Here is a link to our registry :) Baby Reece Gift Registry

We finished our evening having dinner and family time at Big Als!

Tuesday after school Mike and Jenna spent the afternoon together. Then we had a relaxing movie night and enjoyed yummy cheese cake thanks to the amazing Shawn and Chris!

We are all settled into life again and looking forward to having Kade this weekend! I want to thank everyone who supported us through Mike being gone again!

Now I think I will go kiss my Airman just because I can!

Bump 5- Midwife appointment- 16 weeks

How far along? 16 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 4lbs and growing 

Maternity clothes? Yes... I may never wear pants other than Maternity Pants again! After my appointment today Mike and I went shopping for maternity shorts and capri pants... I want summer already!!

Stretch marks? Nothing new. I am really liking my bump gloss and hope that it helps my skin grow like it needs to as my baby grows!

Sleep: Once I get comfortable I sleep great! Dreams are crazy though... I don't remember having such vivid dreams with Jennabelle! I literally wake up every morning having to question "did that really happen"?

Best moment this week: Today we got to have our 3rd appointment with the Midwife! She says everything looks perfect, and we got to hear our little love's heartbeat 150 :) This will be Mike's last appointment for awhile so she recorded it for us! 

Miss Anything? Mike and I went to dinner with our friends last weekend and I wanted Dr. Pepper so bad, but that has gone away thankfully! My dear sister Stevie got me some yummy pregnancy tea that gives me something to drink when I don't want water.

Movement: I can definitely feel my little butterfly at random moments through the day! Usually when I am laying down I can feel it the most! 

Food cravings: Well Lobster is expensive, so I have been substituting with shrimp or other kind of fish... Do you know how good crab stuffed Mahi Mahi is? My newest addition is GF blueberry muffins!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still sensitive to smells, but nothing specific anymore. 

Labor Signs: My stomach will get rock solid randomly. My midwife said that it's normal, and just my body's early stage of getting ready for it's upcoming job

Belly Button in or out? In where it belongs!

Wedding rings on or off? On and still too big... I swelled a lot by this point with Jenna in my hands and feet, so I am feeling lucky that I have normal extremities this far :)

Happy or Moody most of the time: I have gone through a sad stage this week... probably because Mike is leaving, but my husband is the best at reminding me how blessed we are and pointing my thoughts to all the joy! He knows pictures make me happy, so we took some pregnancy pictures and that cheered me up for sure! 

Looking forward to: Getting to feel more movement, my next ultrasound (my mother in law and Jenna get to come), but mostly right now spending as much time as possible with my darling! We are spending the weeks before he leaves converting the room next to ours into a nursery... house shuffle! And we are taking a break this weekend for a little pre-deployment get away just the 2 of us!!!!

Belly Bump 3- 11 weeks- 2nd appointment

How far along? 11, going on 12 weeks!! 

Total weight gain/loss: 8 ounces... Ya I know that was my reaction too! I had them weigh me again. My midwife says with how sick I was in the 1st trimester I was probably loosing and gaining at the same time (I am a human lava lamp)! She says it is completely normal :) She also said she can feel my uterus right on my tummy which is apparently a good thing, because it means baby is in the right spot and the bump is all baby :)

Maternity clothes? Yes and no. My mom got me a bunch of cute tops and stretchy pants which I love! I have bought some stuff too, but don't have to wear just maternity stuff yet... it is more comfortable though :) 

Stretch marks? Nothing new

Sleep: Sleep is great these days. I can finally stay asleep in the morning as long as I want! I still need occasional naps though.

Best moment this week: Mike and I went to our 2nd appointment with the midwife, and all is going perfect in the baby making world! She was able to hear baby's heart on the Doppler 160-170 range :) We talked mostly about my birth plan, and it reminded me why we picked this midwife! She does for every client the things Mike and I have decided we want so far! 

Have you told family and friends: At this point everyone knows... It is funny seeing the reaction of people who don't know when the notice the bump :) It makes me so happy every time I get to say, "Yes, I am pregnant!" 

Miss Anything? Energy! There are some days that I am great and then days... like today that I have to nap or I will not make it. 

Movement: No feelings of it yet, but it was amazing to see how much baby moves around on the ultrasound last week! 

Food cravings: Steak! Tri-tip, New York Strip, Filet Mignon wrapped in bacon, Steak Quesadilla, Steak and Eggs... you get the point! 

Anything making you queasy or sick: The smell of anything minty or menthol 

Gender prediction: I thought by this point I would have some strong desire for a gender, but it isn't there... so none right now... just a healthy Reece Baby!! 

Labor Signs: Way too soon for this question 

Belly Button in or out? In where it belongs!

Wedding rings on or off? On and currently too big :(

Happy or Moody most of the time: Generally I am still in euphoria. But if I have another emotion it is crying, and never about anything important... I can literally cry just to cry...

Looking forward to: Girls Night with my best girls on Friday, Saturday Mike is taking me out for my Birthday, Sunday Birthday with my family, and then Monday for my birthday Mike and I are taking the day off to see our Thing 3's 3rd ultrasound!!!! Not to mention... MY 2ND TRIMESTER!!! 

1st Appointment

We had our 1st doctors appointment this last week! Mike and I took the day off, went to the appointment, then went shopping for baby stuff (which is weirdly so much fun).
This was our 1st appointment for the baby and with the midwife we decided on, so we went it not sure what to expect. We honestly couldn't have asked for a better experience! The office is so warm and welcoming, the staff was super nice, everything was done in one room (from blood work to the ultrasound), and we got to see our baby! Holding my darling's hand while watching that fast tiny heartbeat may have been the most breathtaking moment of our marriage so far! 

They gave us a few pregnancy books and magazines, a gift cards for a free nursing pillow, sling, and nursing cover, and a pregnancy journal. For every question we had they got us literature for us from what medications are okay for me to take, information on genetic testing, to making and sticking to a birth plan! 
We spent awhile just getting to know our midwife, and how their practice works. She partners with an OB that I get to meet also, so if for some reason something goes wrong I have both on Baby's Reece's team! 
They made my next appointment with their ultrasound specialist to get all the pictures of baby we want, and to get us an exact due date seeing I never started having obvious signs of "being a real girl". 
Until then we are starting to master this pregnancy thing! Mike does breakfast in the mornings and gets Jenna out the door, so that I can take my time and get ready in steps while eating :) Mike is "forcing" me to eat super healthy, rest a lot, and take fish pill, so his baby can have a big brain lol....And I am happily letting him take such good care of me and our baby!