31 week update!

I figured that since I've 9 weeks left of this pregnancy I would start doing updates according to my doctor appointments! I'm going every two weeks now and yesterday I had another one.

How Far Along: 

31 weeks

Total Weight Gained: 
18 lbs

Maternity Clothes:
Maternity all the way!

Sleep: 
Pretty good!

Best Moment of the Week: 
Being showered with wipes and diapers on Saturday and being able to enjoy fun times
with family and friends!
 

Food Cravings:
Loving sweet stuff right now but I'm being a good girl and limiting myself (some)

Food Aversions:

Nothing right now... ha! Goooo figure

Stretch marks:
The only battle scars so far are from my lovely
Hannah (I wouldn't mind if that was how it stayed too) 

Belly button: 
Definitely an outie!

Symptoms:  
This will obviously be TMI but I've recently experienced the worst hemorrhoids EVER!
I mean yesterday was terrible I could barely walk around in walmart for five minutes!
I hope that it will clear up because a friend of mine had to have 
surgery and she said she wasnt sure what was worse at first!
I've also experienced my first bit of Braxton Hicks this week.... YIKES! It brings back
all those lovely memories I have of contractions... The doctor tells me its totally normal 
and its a good thing to start feeling some (whatever in the heck that is supposed to mean?!)

My BP:

112/60

Movement:
Definitely! Sometimes she will seriously kick for over an hour non stop!
Little secret I do drink my allotted amount of caffeine
don't worry I've already slapped my hand! Buy y'all,
I CAN NOT function without the stuff!

Gender: 
TEAM PINK! :)

Baby's Name:
Olivia Kate 

What I miss:
This week I have really missed laying on my stomach for some reason....

Milestones:
As far as I can tell we are ready to go minus the packed bag for my sweet little girl to 
make her appearance! Which is a huge relief because with this crazy busy schedule we
have had lately I am glad to have one less thing to stress about! 

A New Experience

I've definitely come to learn that a new experience isnt always a good thing....

This morning like every morning we flip Hannah's light on to get her to start waking up.  She is most definitely not a morning person, she hasnt been in about a year! HA! No joke she's usually grumpy if we have to wake her up.  As long as she wakes up on her own she's fine but you try to stir her in anyway you usually pay dearly for it.  Well Kyle and I have become what we considered "experts" at handling her morning time moodiness (which that thought was short lived) only to be surprised this morning with an off the scale meltdown that lasted from 5:30 until about 6:30 this morning.  Crazy to think that a crying baby can, well, cry for that long... right? Well in truth she didnt cry the entire time there was some screaming, kicking, fussing/whining...
I mean seriously she didnt even know what she wanted! When I set her down for her oatmeal (again same routine) she immediately burst into tears, so I picked her up and she started crying and saying no... no... and pointing at her oatmeal (like she wanted some) so I set her back down and the crying/screaming/kicking started up again except this time it was more intense!  So I picked her back up and was sushing her and asking her what was wrong.  (side note: she has this habit for about as long as I can remember where when she's sleepy she tucks her hand under her chin, kind of like she's holding her throat, only shes not, its just a habit she has when she's sleepy).  Well there was absolutely, positively NO way I was taking her to daycare while she was in such a mood.  I took her to her crib (all the while she is screaming/crying) and I lay her in it and I tell her when she stops crying Mommy will come and get her, I guess sort of like a "time out". Well after about 3 to 5 minutes an eternity she finally calmed down to little hiccups.  I went back in her room and asked if she was ready to get up and eat?  She got up reached up and I picked her up took her back to the kitchen where she started the entire meltdown over A.G.A.I.N....
I said Hannah do you want to go back to your crib and she immediately said No! I told her to quit crying and she did finally.... the only thing she had was the hiccups because of the crying/screaming frenzy she just went through!
I can't stand to see her get so upset like that, and its so much worse now because I feel like there should be something I can do to ease her.  But there wasnt.  Seeing such big tears fall from her eyes makes me feel like it was something I did and I am so used to being the one who makes her smile that seeing her cry makes me feel a huge weight of guilt on my shoulders.  It's tough.  So I guess that's why they call it "tough love"? I didnt want to let her go once I got to her daycare, I'm pretty sure I'm just as attached to that little girl as she is to me, if not more so. 
As I was driving to work I was flipping through the different stations on my radio and I came across a song that I hadnt heard in a while but yet it seemed to be speaking to me personally.

"This is the stuff that drives me crazy,

This is the stuff that getting to me lately,

In the middle of my little mess,

I forget how big I'm blessed"

Francesca Battistelli ~ This is the Stuff

30 week Pregnancy Update!!!

How Far Along: 

30 weeks 0 days

Total Weight Gained: 
18 lbs

Maternity Clothes:
Maternity all the way!

Sleep: 
I've been battling a cold so its not been so great lately....

Best Moment of the Week: 

We had our 3D ultrasound on Friday and it was fabulous seeing her again

although now I'm even more excited to meet her in 10 weeks!

Food Cravings:
Loving sweet stuff right now :(
Food Aversions:

Nothing right now... ha! Goooo figure

Stretch marks:
The only battle scars so far are from my lovely
Hannah (I wouldn't mind if that was how it stayed too) 

Belly button: 
Definitely an outie!

Symptoms:  
Hello! My belly is getting, like, HUGE! :)

My BP:

100/60

Movement:
Definitely! Sometimes she will seriously kick for over an hour non stop!
Little secret I do drink my allotted amount of caffeine
don't worry I've already slapped my hand! Buy y'all,
I CAN NOT function without the stuff!

Gender: 
The ultrasound tech confirmed it for us again that we are having a girl!!!

So no more surprises :))

Baby's Name:
Olivia Kate 

will be her name but

Kyle wants to call her Kate instead of Olivia....

I guess we decide officially when she is born what we'll call her.

What I miss:
Being able to bend over without feeling like I'm going to squish something! I am seriously out of room in there!

Milestones:

70 days left!!! That also means 70 days left until Christmas! OH MY WORD!!!

Also not a milestone but I'm excited regardless... My diaper and wipes shower is next weekend!! YAY!

Overwhelmed!

Overwhelmed is a easy way to put how I've felt lately.  I have so much on my plate that I feel like I can't enjoy the little moments I have with Kyle and Hannah! Talk about frustrating! Every weekend has been full and no down time for us.  Kyle has been so wonderful he's helped me as much as he can and more!  I get a little more stressed out when I have a lot of assignments due for class or I have a test coming up and he's been so patient and helps out with laundry, dishes, dinner and keeping Hannah occupied.  I'm so blessed to have him in my life, he's such a big help and a huge supporter.

What more could I ask for?  I've also been more emotional the past couple of weeks, it seems like since I've entered into my third trimester, my emotions are so up and down.  Not to mention that I've been battling a cold for a little over a week now.Yuck!

Hannah is just wonderful too.  She does what I call "gives me lovin" its really the sweetest thing.  I was putting on a cabinet lock and my finger slipped off of it and it felt like I bent my finger nail backwards... (OUCH!) Because Miss Hannah repeats everything (almost) that we say I had to keep a few words to myself but I was definitely hopping around like a crazy person and was trying to ignore the pain (didnt work to well) anyway Hannah is yanking on my shirt saying Mommy... Mommy... I looked down at her and she grabs my hand and kisses my finger to make it feel better! I literally melted like butter! That was the sweetest gesture that I think I could have ever expected...

I try to store up these little memories that I have with my two favorite people in the entire world so when I do get overwhelmed it's a nice way to calm myself down and remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Don't get me wrong its extremely difficult sometimes but anything that's worth fighting for isn't going to be handed to me!  I don't expect the next couple of years left in school is going to be a walk in the park but I know who I have on my side and by my side and it makes looking into the future a lot more easier and fun!

But honestly I am REALLY looking forward to this semester being over so I can relax and prepare myself and my family for the new little girl who will be joining us soon after classes end! I am very much so looking forward to that date... December 14th to be exact!

Last Ultrasound

Yesterday we went for what I assume is our last ultrasound of this pregnancy!  We decided to get the 3D/4D ultrasound done since we did the same with Hannah.  It is so awesome to see the 3D images and then to watch her move.  She kept her hands up by her face almost the entire time.  The ultrasound tech was telling us we were going to have to invest in mittens for her hands because she wont keep the away from her face! The entire time we were watching we couldn't get over how much she looked like Hannah and then once we got home we compared the pictures and taking in regard that Hannah's 3d was done when I was 33weeks and 6 days, Olivia's was done at 29 weeks and 5 days... Anyway, we got home and compared and realized they actually have several differences but some similarities as well! Now I am even more excited to see her in person.  I have a feeling she may have more of her daddy's features this time around! :))  Either way it wont be long until we get to meet her... I have only 10 weeks left... whooo... whooo!

Hannah is on the left and Olivia is on the right.... What do you think? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I Totally Forgot About!

This was something that I TOTALLY forgot about after my pregnancy with Hannah.... All I can say is sweet Olivia wont let me forget this time!! This happens more times than I can count on my fingers and toes in a day! Its an amazing feeling but it is also a very unusual feeling.... Like she is trying her very best to stretch out and the room I have wont allow her to do so! It doesnt hurt but its very uncomfortable and feels like my stomach turns rock hard! I know I can't be the only mommy who has forgotten about this am I?

October Loving!

Saturday we had a very busy day but it was so beautiful that we couldnt help but want to spend the majority of it outside! So that is exactly what we did, we decided last minute to go to a little artsy festival kind of gig called Cotton Ginning Days.  It's held at the park in Dallas, NC and I hadnt been in years, it was so much fun to take pack up the family and head out there for a fun filled afternoon!

Afterwards we met my parents at the BCMC Pumpkin Patch!  It was quite an adventure compared to last year!  Hannah was so excited about all the pumpkins! She had a blast and we got some really great shots of all the kids with the grandparents too! I still cant believe we will have 4 little ones running around picking out their very own pumpkin this time next year! It all seems so surreal!  And the coolest thing ever is that they are all stair stepped in age with RJ being the oldest of the cousins.  RJ and Hannah are about 18 months apart, Hannah and Braylon are 17 months apart, and then Braylon and Olivia will be 5 months apart! It excites me to no end knowing they will all grow up together and hopefully remain best of friends! Check out our day filled of fun and excitement I wouldnt trade a weekend like this for one single thing in the world!

Hannah held RJ's hand the entire time it was sooooo cute!

Mr Braylon at his first pumpkin patch! He was 11 weeks old that day!

Cousins!!!

Hugs for the pumpkins! hehe Silly girl! She had to individually tell them all bye!

Mawmaw and her grandbabies!

Pawpaw and his grandbabies! The bench wasnt big enough for all to them :0(

Maternity/Fall Photos!

A couple of weeks ago we met with a very good friend of ours who happens to be a fantastic photographer! She took a lot of really great pictures, here are a few of my favorites although I love them all!

This is my first ever maternity photo shoot and we had some fall pictures taken as well!

Hannah's smile is just beautiful...



Since Olivia is due Christmas Day, April had the best idea!



Probably Silly

This is probably silly but I am so tired of hearing it! Co-workers... yes I am pregnant, yes I am "sticking" out there and yes I realize my boobs are big just like my stomach, and yes I am sure to you who only sees me once a week thinks that I do grow over night! So why do you constantly feel the need to tell me every day that my stomach is bigger than it was yesterday, or that my boobs are catching up with my stomach???  I don't need the reminder I walk around 24/7 with the bump and the boobs, so I promise you I havent forgotten about either!

But honestly blog friends why is it that people feel the need to constantly tell me that my stomach baby bump is "sticking waaaay out there today, more than yesterday"? 

Maybe I should give them ALL the benefit of the doubt that they just dont realize how pregnant I really am?  Like 7 months pregnant, meaning 28 weeks, further meaning I have only 12 weeks left...  I worked wtih the public, with strangers and people I knew pretty well when I was pregnant with Hannah and it wasnt until maybe the last couple weeks of work that they were asking me questions like if I thought I would make it to February... But not this crowd... Nope they as I said above feel the constant need to tell me (now) how my belly is sticking out or heres a new one I heard just this morning "Man, you really are growing over night!" nice... really nice...

Is it bad that my sensitivity level of caring how what I say makes them feel has become almost non-existant?

Please don't think I am a girl who needs to hear she looks great and blah, blah, blah... To be honest I'd rather not hear a thing! But I do miss my old job where my friends wouldnt tell me how big they thought I was getting!

I am in my 3rd and final trimester and I will be 29 weeks on Sunday, so maybe its my hormones flying around all crazy and out of wack again but it has become an increasing annoyance hearing constant remarks.

My remarks to them are getting less sweet and more snippy.  Can you blame me?  My short reply is "Well isnt that how it is supposed to be this far along?" Of course they are like well yeah, and we head in our separate ways.  But I have a feeling that if I continue to hear these little remarks I will say something that will hurt one of their feelings.  But I dont know what else to do!?

Again if you think this is a silly blog post I am sorry but I had to HAD TO get this off my chest and maybe now I can let it go! But then again who knows?

This is yet another email I received today, my MIL sent it to Kyle and he forwarded it to me.  I realize that September 11 has already passed but I just received this one and it put chills down my back, I had to share it with my blog friends!!

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL' 

 

      You say you will never forget where you were when

        you heard the news On September 11, 2001.

Neither will I.

 

          I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room

        with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I

        held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the

        peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it

        is OK..I am ready to go.'

 

        I was with his wife when he called as she fed

        breakfast to their children. I held her up as she

        tried to understand his words and as she realized

        he wasn't coming home that night.

 

        I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a

        woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been

        knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.

        'Of course I will show you the way home - only

        believe in Me now.'

 

        I was at the base of the building with the Priest

        ministering to the injured and devastated souls.

        I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He

        heard my voice and answered.

 

        I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,

        with every prayer. I was with the crew as they

        were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the

        believers there, comforting and assuring them that their

        faith has saved them.

 

        I was in Texas, Virginia, California, Michigan,  Afghanistan.

        I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.

        Did you sense Me?

 

        I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew

        every name - though not all knew Me. Some met Me

        for the first time on the 86th floor.

 

        Some sought Me with their last breath.

        Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the

        smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take

        my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.

But, I was there.

 

        I did not place you in the Tower that day. You

        may not know why, but I do. However, if you were

        there in that explosive moment in time, would you have

        reached for Me?

        

       Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey

        for you. But someday your journey will end. And I

        will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may

        be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are

        'ready to go.'

 

        I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

 

        God 

30 Week Picture Comparison



30 weeks pregnant with Hannah Grace



30 weeks pregnant with Olivia Kate



To me it looks like I'm carrying the same with both girls! My stomach definitely looks the same size too which means I'm going to have another big girl!