Labor Day Project

I decided to paint my front door this weekend... It is a vast improvement to the ugly black with gold fixtures... But I learned a lot about myself by doing this. 

1. I seriously overestimate my abilities

2. I seriously underestimate the time commitment

3. I rely heavily on my amazing husband to bring me back to reality and to help out

4. I am the worlds worst spray painter

5. That grease and orange sticky stuff is supposed to be there so the lock actually locks.

Some pretty good life lessons I think!

Before:

After:

My supplies:

Mothers Day

This was my first Mothers Day and it was wonderful! My little guy gave me a card that had me in tears. Of course Travis picked it out, but it was the sweetest card I've ever received. 

There was a time I didn't think I would ever be a mother and so Mother's Day was always a day I celebrated my mom - I never thought I'd be the celebrated one.

It felt like any other day really - but it was also amazing to finally be able to celebrate that part of life. I spent the day in awe of my little man and how much I love him and how much he has change my life for the better. Someone mentioned to me yesterday that I looked and seemed so much happier now. I feel so much happier! How could I not?!

I'm so lucky to be a mom to the sweetest little boy alive.

Update

It's been a while I know! I didn't post much during my third trimester because I was pretty exhausted and trying to work super hard to get everything ready for our new arrival. There was also a lot of drama in my personal life and I wanted to ignore it and focus on being healthy and pregnant instead of the stresses.

My last trimester was also pretty challenging - I had gestational diabetes that was nearly impossible to control with diet and exercise and I ended up on medication during the day and injectable insulin at night. Additionally, my blood pressure went up as well. I had weekly appointments and twice weekly non-stress tests. We were worried he would be a huge baby!  

Lincoln came on March 5th and he's perfect! It has been a month and I'm so in love with him! I hate the thought of going back to work but I have no choice. We need the insurance that I carry, especially now that we have a little boy. He has made me happier than I ever thought possible and I didn't know I could love someone so much. I love Travis so much - who knew I would love him even more every time I see him snuggle, change, feed, or kiss our son. It's beyond anything I ever imagined!

I feel so different now that I'm a mom... It's amazing! But how could you not fall in love with this little face 

30 weeks and counting...

I can't believe I am 30 weeks pregnant. It's insane!  Time has seriously been flying! I can't wait to meet this little guy!

Let me rephrase - I can wait to meet him. I don't want him to come any earlier than he needs to - but that may be sooner than i expected. I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes at the beginning of December. I've been working on controlling my blood sugar by watching my diet and exercising. Unfortunately, despite my efforts, I was put on Metformin at night. No big deal - I used metformin when we were trying to get pregnant. I'm familiar with the ugly side effects but if it means the baby will be healthy - I'll do it.  At the beginning of my 30 week appointment this week, my numbers were reviewed and for some reason, my fasting number is always high. I can't get it into normal range no matter what I do. So, the doctor put me on a second dose of metformin in the mornings - and then very casually said, "we'll probably be putting you on insulin at your next appointment - but try to follow the diet and we will see what happens."  WHAT?!

My blood sugar won't go down, my blood pressure keeps going up - they are watching my bp really closely as it's flirting with high levels.Then the doctor said, "you know, with these problems you are at risk of having a stillborn. Let's have you start weekly non-stress tests. If you pass the test, it means you have less than a 1 in 10,000 chance of having a stillborn that week."  WHAT?!

Welcome to the Third Trimester

It's crazy to believe I'm finally in the third trimester.... 7th month... just a few weeks to go.

This morning our nursery furniture was delivered - I can't wait to see it! We bought a crib, a dresser, and a custom glider/recliner. I can't wait to see it all!  It's getting so real now!

I can feel him move all day long now, and his kicks and punches are starting to actually move my belly. Travis saw it for the first time last night and was surprised at the movement. It's pretty crazy to see - but exciting too.

Christmas is in less than a week, and I bought a couple of small baby things for Travis for his stocking  - and a special gift from the baby (I won't spoil the surprises just in case he looks at this blog - which is highly unlikely). I'm excited for Christmas to come... and excited for it to go as well. I'm just excited for this little guy to make his entrance into the world - and it seems like Christmas is one more milestone to pass in this pregnancy.

I found out two weeks ago that I have gestational diabetes - bleh. I can handle it for the most part with diet and exercise, but my morning fasting blood sugar is crazy high every morning. So, we will see what the doctor says on Monday.

We are still taking our birthing class and just practiced the different labor positions.  I am convinced they don't tell you the gross details of birth and positioning and pain and stuff so you don't second guess yourself in wanting to have a child. Of course I still want him, and I still want to go natural - but oh dang!

I'm excited - but I'm tired now. I had so much energy in the second trimester it was awesome. Now? Not so much... I just want to sleep all the time! The problem is that I don't sleep well at night. I wake up to go to the bathroom and then I'm awake for a couple of hours. Or I have heartburn and am awake for a few hours. Or the baby thinks it's time to play and I can't fall back asleep with him using my insides as a punching bag.

But I'll take it all - because in three short months he will be here! I can't wait!

24 weeks

In about 6 hours, I will be officially 24 weeks along. It's amazing how quickly the time has gone - and at the same time, it seems like it is forever until our little boy is born.

I am currently taking a Bradley Method Birthing Class, along with Prenatal Water Aerobics - and it has allowed me to become friends with other pregnant ladies. It's weird how I am always the oldest person having their first child - all of the other ladies my age are having their 3rd, or 5th even. But I feel blessed none the less.

The past month has been really hard on me - family drama - work stress - the pregnancy... I feel like a gigantic baby! I've been trying really hard not to complain because I don't want to be "that" lady. I wanted to get pregnant - so much so that it cost us an arm and a leg to try twice. I want to have a family. I can't imagine a better feeling than the kicking I am feeling regularly - especially if I eat a snickers bar! But I'm in pain... Our little guy is just over 1.3 lbs. and growing rapidly.  His legs are measuring a week and a half to two weeks ahead of his due date, with his little waist and head measuring a week under his due date (sounds like our little guy will have Travis' figure - thank goodness!).  But his little head is sitting right on my lady parts, and pushes and presses all day long!

As painful as it is - as slow as I walk now - and even though I waddle like a duck... I will be forever grateful for this opportunity.  I'm so happy that I'm able to carry this little boy - even if it's a pain (literally). I can't wait until the day I meet him! Well... I can wait about 15 weeks longer at least :)

I think...

...I may have just felt movement for the first time! I can't be entirely sure because I've never felt it before - but I've never felt this before. 

I spent the morning painting his bedroom and laid down afterward to take a breather because my belly was starting to hurt - when all of a sudden I felt three little flicks on the left side of my belly. It surprised me because I have never had that feeling before. It has happened a few times since then as well! 

I'm pretty positive it's him and maybe he's telling me to stop squishing him while I paint. I'm so excited!!!!