26 week update!

First, I'd like to send Explorer Bud a BIG congratulations!!!  I'm so happy for you, sweets!  XOXO

I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to update.  I'm exhausted when I get home every evening, and house/nursery projects have consumed our lives on the weekends.  I took my glucose test this past week and everything came back fine.  I'll return in 2 weeks for a growth scan, and my mom will be joining me.  I'm so excited that she'll be able to see her next grandchild on the big screen. :) 

How far along: 26 weeks and 5 days!

Total weight change: Between 10-13 pounds.  I'm still unsure due to my IVF medication causing me to gain some weight.

Maternity clothes: I mostly wear maternity clothes, but I can still fit into some pre-pregnancy pants with my bella band.  My stomach is starting to look like a nice round ball, and Mr. Bossy Bud told me that other night that my belly button is looking a little shallow.

Stretch Marks: I haven't noticed any.  Now, that's not to say I didn't already have some from before!

Movement: Baby Bossy Bud moves around a lot; especially while I'm trying to go to sleep!  He's more active in the evenings.

Sleep: Sleeping well!  I'm usually in bed by 9:00 pm every night.  I thought I was suppose to have more energy in the 2nd trimester!!??

Best Moment This Past Week: Working on his nursery!  Mr. Bossy Bud, my mom, and several friends have all had their part in helping with his room.  Stripes have been painted on the wall and the furniture is being refinished as we speak.  I'm so ready to see the finished product!

Most Difficult Moment This Past Week: My stomach was hurting quite a bit yesterday at work.  We had a teacher planning day, so the entire day was spent with my team.  Gas has been a constant for me lately, and I was holding it in while we planned.  I felt fine while I sat, but there was a painful pressure when I stood.  It hurt to even walk.  I told myself it was just stretching and tried not to worry.  Well-  after we finished, I returned to my room and started to "relieve" some of the pressure.  I felt so much better!  I never knew I could hurt so much from being so gassy!  :)

Belly Button In or Out: In!  I can't see it anymore, but it's still an innie.

Cravings/Aversions: No cravings.  I'm started to not want chicken.  I'm weird.  I know.

Symptoms: Indigestion.  It comes and goes, and I never know what is going to cause it.  It's NOT fun.

Until next time!

Bossy Bud

Back from a slight hiatus... 26w2d

Sorry for pulling a little "disappearing act" since my last post... but we had a family Wedding in Georgia, which we turned into a little, much needed, vacation. Here are my updates :)


How far along: 26 weeks 2 days (3 days as of Tuesday, but as of now it's late Monday night for me). On the verge of the 3rd trimester :) :) :)

Total weight change: Same as last time... will have an update after my next Dr. appointment on the 7th of August, since that's the only place I'm getting weighed. 

Maternity clothes: I don't own too much maternity clothes, but none of my "regular" clothes fit anymore, so you can pretty much say I'm in "maternity" clothes. Dresses, leggings, stretch pants, etc... Comfy :)

Stretch Marks: I'm turning into a Zebra "/

Movement: He is moving a lot lately! Mr. DBud FINALLY felt him move last Wednesday at the hotel in Orlando on the way home. His face was priceless :) Today, he moved a lot as well. He's getting stronger, and his movements are becoming much more obvious. 

Sleep: Thankfully, I'm still on Summer break, so I am getting sleep... I hope to be able to stay rested when I go back to work in a few weeks... we'll see how that goes.

Best Moment This Past Week: I've had a few good moments lately... we had a great vacation, which was very well deserved, but when we got back, it's been all "baby". We started working on the nursery (more seriously) and got things much more organized. We finally decided on the furniture (Bonavita Metro collection  crib, dresser/changer and nightstand), and finished working on our registry (for the most part). But best of all was Mr. DBud feeling our son move :) That was totally amazing. I honestly almost cried. 

Most Difficult Moment This Past Week: The week before my trip, on the 10th, I needed to go into my Dr.'s office to have my glucose tolerance test. People talked to me about the glucola you have to drink, and mentioned different things, but I was ok with all of it. The morning came, and I headed over to take care of business. The nurse gave me the orange glucola which I chugged like a champ, and sent me into the waiting room for the dreaded 1 hour wait. Well, within minutes of sitting out there, I started feeling weird. Then, weird turned to outright bad, and I swear... I almost passed out right then and there! It was the WORST feeling ever. I got so worried, and texted my Husband. I honestly thought I was going to black out. Thankfully, before I went in for the blood draw, I felt fine... but then, she couldn't find my vein (first time EVER!). She finally did the draw, and then told me that if I failed, I would get a call by Friday or the following Monday. NO CALL! Woohoo!!!! I'm so happy, because I totally thought that due to my reaction, I had miserably failed. Thank GOD everything is going well :)

Belly Button In or Out: Still in, but definitely not as deep as before. So strange! I wonder how much longer it'll stay this way ;)

Cravings/Aversions: I craved candy the other day... which is weird, cause I never do. Other than that, nothing really... still loving those McDonald's cheeseburgers, though. 

Symptoms: MAJOR heartburn. Holy cow!!!!! Slight swelling in hands (can't wear engagement ring anymore, only wedding band) and swelling of the feet which comes and goes depending on what type of day I had and whether or not I've had a chance to raise my feet or not. 


Baby Shower plans are currently underway, so that is also keeping us quite busy... it's amazing how time starts to fly by after week 20! I can't wait to meet our little man in October!!!!! 


Also, one of my best friends just announced her pregnancy this past week :) I couldn't be happier for both of them!! This makes the journey that much more exciting... and more so now that I just found out ANOTHER friend is pregnant :) BABIES EVERYWHERE!!! WOOHOO!!!!!!


Until next time :)

Growth Scan

Apparently this morning the little guy decided that my full bladder was a good trampoline. Quite the sensation to wake up to (ouch!). During his time in the bouncy house, he had a very notable flip. When I first started to really feel movement, he'd flip all the time. The last few weeks I'm pretty sure he's been transverse (sideways) with his head on my right. It was quite a different feeling having him flip this morning. Much more noticeable than it was a few weeks ago.


This morning was my growth ultrasound to check on him and make sure he's plugging along like he should be. I had to chuckle when the the tech found him in there folded in half and breech as can be. Ha Ha! Bounce on Mommy's bladder and look where it gets you!

Sorry for the image quality. That's his head to the bottom left and body just to the right of that. In front of his face are his little shins and feet.

I'm not concerned about the breech thing yet, he's got quite awhile yet to do a 180 for me.

He did well at the scan. The average for his measurements was 27w1d. I'm 26w4d right now, so he's within reason. Heart rate of 144 bpm. Estimated weight of 2lb 2oz. Most of his measurements were right within the normal range. I'm a little concerned about his femur measurement (7th percentile) and his head measurement (95th percentile...kinda freaking me out in regards to delivery with that one), but the doctor said it was all within the normal range so I guess we're alright.

I probably should do my 26 week update now as well since my other post this week will be on a completely different subject.

For the most part its more of the same this week. He's still wiggling around in there (as I type this, actually). It turns out I was right with my suspicion that The Girls might be kicking things up a notch. Started noticing a little leakage earlier this week. (Sorry if that's TMI, just telling it like it is). I've been dealing with what I believe is Carpal Tunnel issues with my hands as well. Mostly its manifesting as a tingly ring and pinky finger on one or both hands. Definitely more prevalent on my dominant hand. Sometimes the joints in my hands are achy as well. Occasionally I have nights when I'll wake up in pain as the bottom arm of whatever side I'm sleeping on has fallen asleep. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is pretty common in pregnancy (the swelling in late pregnancy can increase the pressure in the carpal tunnel leading to the issues I'm having).

In other news baby shower gifts are starting to arrive! Our shower is in a couple of weeks on the other side of the country, and a bunch of our friends and family have been shipping stuff ahead of time. Its been great having stuff trickle in and getting to gush over it all. I got my outfit for the baby shower today after the appointment. Feels good to have that out of the way as well. I seriously can't believe that we leave in less than a week to go on the baby shower trip. Where has the time gone???

26 week update and DOUBLE digits!

Here's a quick (but lengthy) update for 26 weeks:

I am in shock that third tri starts this week! Baby is somewhere between 2 and 2.25 pounds, and around 14" long. I'm in maternity clothes most of the time--some tops are still too big, but most are starting to fit really well. I'm up about 20 pounds, and after two straight months of 7-8 pound gains, my weight gain has held steady for the past two weeks. But that means I definitely don't fit into my bathing suits from last year anymore--so I got some new bathing suits last week. It's been in the high 90's here for a few weeks now, and they are C-U-T-E! I decided to eschew true maternity suits in favor of bigger-sized bikinis, and I'm so happy I did. DH and I both LOVE the suits I ended up with, and they're mix-and-match (prints/solids), so I have the equivalent of four new suits, but only had to buy two!

Speaking of weight gain, I've started to notice a few teeny stretch marks, but they're just white-ish and not noticeable unless onlookers are staring at my side-hip right above my hip bones. I've continued moisturizing like crazy, and have even started using Mederma in the hopes they don't get any worse. (I'm very thankful our birth center has free samples :) ). Belly button is still in, but getting wider and shallower. I don't know yet if it's going to become an outie, but that possibility really weirds Mr. MB out. It's funny!

I'm sleeping better now than ever before in this pregnancy. I've finally started to figure out the whole liquid-consumption-before-bed thing, and have realized that if I stop drinking for the night about 8pm, I'll be able to get to bed at 10:30 and only wake up once or twice to pee. It's awesome!

Baby Magnolia Bud is moving around pretty consistently. I feel him/her up around my belly button, and also on the left side, about halfway between my ribs and my pubic bone. Mr. Magnolia Bud loves feeling the baby move, and he gets so excited every time he's able to feel him/her. He talks to the baby most days before we get out of bed, telling him/her things like "Baby, this is your daddy. We can't wait to meet you, but not today. Today you need to keep kicking around inside mommy, but not too hard. Have to go now, I'll see you tonight. Bye baby." It's really adorable, and makes me love him even more than I already do.

My food cravings and aversions have pretty much eliminated themselves. I'm eating frequent, small meals, and trying to make most of them healthy. I still don't remember to take my vitamins every day, but have been eating loads of fruits and veggies to help compensate.

Overall, I really enjoy being pregnant. I get asked occasionally if I miss anything about not being pregnant, and I don't really. Pregnancy hasn't changed much about our lifestyle, and we're going to strive to continue that trend once baby arrives. Our friends that do have kids are really flexible, fun people, who have been able to maintain lives that don't revolve around their kids--but where their kids are involved, treasured, and loved. That's what our goal is.

Here are a few things I'm looking forward to over the next few weeks:
-Next week, Mr. MB and I are spending 4 days/3 nights in Asheville from Thursday to Sunday. I have to be there for work, but it's my work's biggest program of the year, and spouses get to come too. When I'm not working, we're having some great dinners out with friends, taking a hike, going to a black-tie dinner/dance, and relaxing by the pool. He's also participating in a golf tournament and a 5K while I'm working.
-The week of June 27, we're going on vacation all week to the Outer Banks. We're going with Mr. MB's mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, uncle, aunt, cousin, and our niece and nephew. We have a huge house right on the beach in Duck, and I'm so excited to spend a week sitting on the beach, windsurfing, swimming, and hanging out with DH with no commitments.
-My next appointment is June 27. I have my glucose tolerance test that morning, and then my 28-week appointment just after the test. That appointment marks the start of every-other-week appointments until 36 weeks!
-My first baby shower is July 9! That's 3 weeks from Saturday! I'm going to post separately about the baby showers and registry observations, but I can't believe it's coming up so quickly!

I'll leave you with two thoughts:
-Second tri FLIES by. When my girlfriends told me it would, I didn't believe them--at 13 weeks, it feels like nothing will go quickly. Well, of course they were right. We got so much done over the last 13 weeks, but there's still so many small things to do before baby arrives. I think I'll post separately about home improvement projects we're undertaking over the next 14 weeks.
-Pregnancy really starts to get fun during second tri. You start to look pregnant, you've told everyone, while the worry is still present, it subsides greatly (especially after 24 weeks), and I don't know about the rest of you, but I've really been enjoying being pregnant.

Sending all of you lots of love!
Magnolia Bud

Oh, Bed Rest

Luckily, this isn't me quite yet!

So, update since the last time I was here....

After my appointment monday I got my bloodwork results back right away. Everything checked out except my liver showed some slight abnormalities. Dr said it could be due to taking tylenol for my headaches (which I hadn't had any in about 4 days prior to that bloodwork). He ordered that I get a 12.5mg shot of betamethasone Tuesday and Wednesday. It should help determine whether or not my liver functions were actually abnormal or if due to the tylenol. It also, I learned at the Drs office, is a steroid that will help increase Mister MBs lung growth capacity just incase this turns into something bigger and we go into Pre Term Labor.

So, I got the two shots (whoa did they sting compared to my progesterone shots!) and my blood redrawn today to double check for those elevated levels. Daddy MB wasn't so happy about the steroid, for his own personal reasons he kind of got into an uproar and I know my dad only has my best interests at heart - but I trust my Dr. He's gotten me this far on a pregnancy that we both thought we were going to lose at the beginning.

As far as work/bed rest goes - basically started on Monday when they wrote me out of work. I went in Tuesday for a half day to learn that they couldn't accommodate my half-day schedule that the Dr was requesting and I had to start my maternity leave today. FMLA is 12 weeks, I have 14 weeks to go. At first it was a little stressful but we got it all worked out and Hubby MB and I are confident this is the right thing to do. Even if our entire family is worried sick about our finances (I've got GREAT benefits and get 100% salary for the first 8 weeks and 67% salary for the last 4 weeks), it's clear to me and the doctor this is working.

How, you ask? Well, my BP yesterday was back down to 120/70 - still a tad bit high for me but back to non-dangerous levels. My headaches, dizzy spells, contractions, swelling, and everything else that was creeping up on me last week are nearly gone. And most importantly, that BP is lower. Woot woot!

Stay tuned to what I've been doing since being on modified bed rest (because I'm still allowed those 4 hours a day to do what I want)!

25-26 weeks & double digits!!!

O.M.G. I can't believe how quickly time is flying! I'm sure I have said this before, but for realz - it's flying. I remember how excruciatingly slow the 1st tri seemed to go by & now I feel like the second has FLOWN by - a few more days & I'll be officially in the 3rd tri (I am going by the 26.6 weeks = 3rd tri, but accoring to some sources, I already am in the 3rd tri!!). I looked at my little ticker today & I only have 97 days left until Baby Worry Bud's EDD - double digits baby!!! Ahhhhh. She's still busy as ever moving away in there...still the size of an eggplant according to The Bump. Another little token of knowledge The Bump gave me today when I opened my email - I may start feeling Braxton Hicks contractions, which I'm sure will freak me out. It may sound crazy, but I still worry about this little girl - I'm sure that'll never change - but anytime I feel a weird twinge or something I haven't felt before, then I get worried about her. Not as worried as I was in the 1st tri or before I could feel her kicking & wiggling around in there, but still. I guess that's part of being a mom...which is AWESOME since I'm already a worry wart (again, hence my name)! Sigh.

The Bump also says that I need to:

1. Schedule a tour of the maternity ward {where I'll deliver} - DONE!
2. Pre-register with my hospital - ummmm, no one mentioned this to me?! I guess I'll ask my Dr. about this one @ the next appointment.

Oh & I'm overdue (again, according to The Bump) on these tasks:

1. Start interviewing pediatricians - guess I should get on that, huh?! I got a referral, I just need to make sure they take our insurance & set up an appt.
2. Research private & public cord banking.
3. Schedule a Glucose Tolerance Test - plan to complete this Wednesday...wish me luck!

And on my own list:

1. Discuss maternity pics, select a date & find inspiration photos for my little sis (she agreed to do my maternity pictures - she's a pretty awesome amateur photog).
2. Finish up DIY nursery projects (as of now, that's about 3 more left, but knowing me, I'm sure I'll add more).
3. Type up proposed maternity leave schedule & discuss with both my boss{es} (we have briefly discussed it, but I wanna give them something in writing).
4. Work on comprehensive Baby WB to do list.

So I guess I need to get on the ball on a few things. I have also tasked Mr. WB with researching College Savings Plans & bringing what he finds to me, so we can make a decision on what'll work best for our family & budget. Whew. Thankfully that list does not include figuring out daycare - my older sister has generously offered to be our nanny. She's a SAHM, so she says she doesn't mind & she'll be able to bond with her first & only niece! LOVE her. :) It's gonna be soooooo much easier for me to go back to work knowing our baby girl is being cared for by someone we know, love & trust and someone that we know will not harm her in any way. My sister is a very natural nurturer, must come from being oldest? IDK...but she's awesome with kids & I know she'll take great care of Baby WB.

Baby Center says the baby's network of nerves in her ears are better developed and more sensitive than before & that she can almost definitely hear outside voices in addition to mine. I definitely think she knows her daddy's voice, because anytime he puts his head down near my belly & talks to hear, she kicks for him. A daddy's girl already! They are totally forming an alliance against me, but it's cool because I know my sweet doggie will remain on his mama's side...he better if he knows what's good for him! Or maybe, he'll join the Baby/Mr. WB alliance (b/c I'm sure he & the baby will be BFFs), then I'll have no one on my side. Sigh. Outnumbered. Already. By way of symptoms, I am definitely feeling more achy towards the end of the day & I have been getting a lot more frequent heartburn. Last night it kept me up for a bit. It's not horribly unbearable, but it still hurts! I have also been having a lot more (tmi) gas - my poor hubby. And my ankles are swelling again - I assume from humidity & salt intake like last time, so I'm laying down with my feet up resting now.

Also, my baby buying obsession is still in full effect. My newest purchase - that Mr. WB denied, but I just HAD to have so I bought it with my credit card. : ) We have a joint, but also separate checking accounts & one separate c/c each that we pay from our separate accounts...works very well for us. But I digress, I bought my little girl the most frivilous, but also the absolute cutest thing ever:

Photo Credit

::giggle snort:: A-freakin'-dorable, right?! I love that it's 0-12 months, so she can wear it for her newborn pics, her monthly ones too possibly & for her first birthday!!! And the best part - I got it on babysteals for $35 & it's regularly $70, although on sale for $55 right now!! So now I want to try & make her a cute hair bow to go with it!

I also made the last of the really major purchases for her nursery! I got her bedding, toy storage tote & throw pillow/cover for her glider all from PBK (I had a 10% off your entire purchase coupon too, woot):

PBK Coco Dot Bedding

 PBK Brooke Decorative Sham (I also bought the pillow insert for $10 from PBK)

PBK Girls' Canvas Buckets (I got the large one in pink dot)

And finally, my 26 week bump pic + a comparison for every 5 weeks starting @ 5 weeks & ending with 25 weeks (click to enlarge) - I definitely think I look pregnant, but still don't think I've "popped" so to speak. Or maybe I have & it's all in my mind that I haven't?! Regardless, I'm fully in maternity or my Mr. WB's clothes, lol. Keep growing big & strong in there Baby WB!!

26 weeks:

5-25 week comparison (every 5 weeks):

PS - don't forget to enter the buti-bag company giveaway that ends tonight. And you can get 40% off your entire order for any purchase you make during the giveaway too. Their stuff is really great!

In Honor Of the World Cup

Baby Obsessive Bud decided to kick the crap out of her dad. It was pretty awesome. I don’t know if it was the vuvezelas she was hearing or just knowing soccer was on TV but she sure did kick him. I’m feeling her every single day all the time now and it is probably the best feeling ever. She loves to kick after I eat, drink or lay down. She definitely loves to kick when I’m taking a nice bath. I guess she is relaxing also?
Since getting back from Hawaii we have been busy with her nursery. Well I say we, more like Mr. OB has. We have done alot, but still have more to do. On our list to do is:
Put up crown molding
Get rug
Make curtains
Purchase Mattress
Bedding is being made as we speak

Put decal above her crib
Make molding around the decal
Put up poms
We also have a couple of things to do in our house after her nursery is finished. Like I really want to get a big freezer for all the breast milk I will be storing (Crossing fingers here on this one), I want someone to paint the bathroom. I don’t mind helping though. We need to get some new patio furniture and put some frames up in the guest bedroom.
Hopefully these things can be done in the next couple of weeks. If not, oh well it will be fine.
This weekend Mr. OB and I deep cleaned the floors because our dumb dog Floppy thinks our floor is the backyard and keeps peeing on it. Apparently he knows something is up and knows he is no longer the baby. Well he better get over that fast. My mom also came down and we did some baby shopping and recovered a lampshade with fabric. Lets just say it was little more difficult than the website showed but we got it!
I’ll give you a couple of sneak peaks into Baby OB’s room. She is going to have a pretty awesome room. She’s already so lucky!
Her view from her crib

Again

The fabric for her bedding being made as we speak!

View from the door

Also I’ve been bad at having Mr. OB take my photos. Here is a photo I took myself at 26 weeks. Enjoy!

Oh Boy (s)!

Baby Daisy bud is a boy. While we are thrilled to be having a healthy little boy, I will admit that I was feeling slightly disappointed at first that it was not a girl. Mainly over the fact that we really don't need to buy much of anything for this little guy. I was really looking forward to picking out all kinds of cute girls rompers and jammies. Now that I've gotten used to the idea of having another little boy, Little Daisy Bud #1 and I picked out a few new outfits for his little brother. Mr. Daisy Bud and I also decided on a name for our little bud. We are planning on calling him Jackson Curtis. It's funny because this was on my list of potential names for little Daisy Bud #1 and I'm pretty sure Mr. Daisy Bud hated it then. There's something about having a name for him that just makes him so much more real.
And since I'm usually pretty bad about adding pictures, here is a 26 week bump shot.