California Vacation Day 1: Gilroy Gardens

The day after Mike and the kids joined me in California my intended family took us to an amusement park in a near by town called Gilroy Gardens!

It was so stinking cute! Most of the rides were fruits and veggies grown in the area :) 

 James slept the 1st 1/2 of our trip there so Jenna and Mike went on all the rides with my IP's and there older kids while I walked the beautiful gardens! 

And of course we had to try all the snacks :)

Once James woke up he went on all the little kid rides 

And my IF took Jenna to play the carnival games... she did really well! 

 For the last activity before the park closed they all went boating, and James and I had some more of the cuddles that I had been missing all week!

Our New Journey: Surrogacy Part 6: My 1st week in Cali and Maternity Pictures

One month ago I left for California prepared to give birth to my Surro baby. 

 The day before that my OBGYN checked me, and said that even though I was only 35 weeks I was already dilated to a 2 and starting to efface. I needed to leave ASAP, or she wouldn't let me fly.

We already had plans for me and the kids to leave the next weekend and Mike to meet us there the 1st of June, but couldn't risk me waiting. 

So our AMAZING family stepped it, and made it possible for me to leave a week earlier!

Once in California I was papered and just relaxed hoping taking it slow would stop progression until Mike could get to there too. I seriously couldn't imagine not having him by my side for this!

 I made myself at home at the lovely guest home my IP's had all set up for us!

I really am going to miss the view!

I got a massage. mani/pedis, my hair colored, drank my weight in pink tea, and got introduced to lots of yummy food.

My intended parents did a wonderful job of taking care of me, and keeping my mind off of the fact that I missed my babies! 

And Mike did an amazing job of keeping me connected to what was going on at home with lots of pictures and Facetime!

One of the days there my intended mother asked me to do maternity pictures. 

My #1 wish for this whole thing was for it to be as special for her as possible, so of course I said yes!

Here are a few of my favorites.

36 weeks!

Then one week after I arrived my hubby brought me my babies!!!!

Once I got all the cuddles they were going to allow 

they wanted to see the property.

 So we went for a "walk" to wear the kids out ;)

Then after nap time we went swimming at the local rec center

It was so wonderful to have my family with me!

I was sure that baby was going to come soon, so Mike decided he would stay.

The next day we started Operation: "Walk the Baby Out" :)

Our New Journey: Surrogacy Part 5- 3rd Trimester update

Surrogacy is going beautifully and faster than I could have imagined...

 I may be a little sad when it is all over :( 

Pregnancy itself is well... pregnancy lol 

Other than the general discomforts from putting on 20lbs over 32 weeks, and easily fixed heartburn things are going super smoothly! It is definitely different to be pregnant when you have a 1 year old to chase, but otherwise things are pretty similar to my pregnancy with James.

I have been taking pictures in the same dress, so my IP's can see how baby girl and I are growing. I started posting some of the pictures on my last Surro update: Our New Journey: Surrogacy Part 4

23 Weeks

26 Weeks 

I Lost my toes at 27 Weeks :(

29 weeks

My intended mother came and protected me from Mike's shenanigans on April Fools ;)

It was so fun to spend the day with her just talking about our kids! The very best part was getting to see her sweet little girl! I truly can not wait for my IPs to get to meet their baby!

32 weeks 

Now we are planning for delivery! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?! 

 Seeing baby is due during the summer my intended parents are going to give me and the kids a vacation to stay near them for a few weeks. This will make it more relaxing for me and my IP's to not have to worry about them missing the delivery, and make for a fun end to this pregnancy for my family :)

This upcoming trip is also giving me something exciting to take my nesting out on...my husband is appreciating any distraction from me continuing to nest on our house lol 

Please continue to pray for my family and my IPs family as we all prepare for June :)

Our New Journey: Surrogacy Part 4- 20 week update

At 9 weeks I had my last ultrasound with Idaho Center for Reproductive Medicine, and was transferred to my regular OBGYN. Because we had made it through the risky part of IVF pregnancy.

The next week I was able to ween off all my lovely shots!!! 

At 11 weeks I started showing enough to start tracking my bump growth

At 14 weeks I had my 1st appointment with my OB, and got to show my Intended Parents lots of pictures of their little miracle! 

That was also the week I started feeling movement which earned baby the nickname butterfly :)

 At 17 weeks my need for naps went away (which was like a Christmas Miracle)

I started craving Asian, so I think we went to PF Chang's like 4 times in a matter of weeks ;)

20 week bump!

At my 20 week appointment Mike and I were able to Facetime my IPs during the ultrasound, so they could find out they are getting a Princess!

Things are going very smoothly! 

I am now craving lots of fruit and my only real pregnancy symptom the last few weeks in very curable heartburn! I have had super energy lately so I am taking it out on my house! There is not a room that is not deep cleaned down to the floor boards, not a drop of laundry would need done if my family could just go a day without wearing more ;)

I feel less connection with baby butterfly than I did with my kids. I feel like that is a blessing, because even my heart knows I am not her mama! However I am just in love with my intended mother, and she is on my heart daily so I make sure her little girl is well taken care of!