My Journey Through Pregnancy

Welcome, Ayden James!!!  Week 38 marks the very last week of my baby belly.  It's hard to believe that our chalkboard found it's new home in our basement storage room.  Every week for the past 32 weeks, Todd (and Allie) have taken a picture of my growing bump.  Allie INSISTED on also taking a photo of me after we convinced her week after week to let Daddy do it first. 

 

Little Ayden made me quite uncomfortable at the end.  My back hurt so bad that I usually ended up playing musical beds each night...from my bed, to the floor, to the couch...and even to Allie's giant bean bag in her room.  We are so glad he's finally here...and so are my ribs and lungs.  He arrived TWO WHOLE WEEKS EARLY at 7lbs, 2oz. 

 

Here's a recap of my baby belly bump in photos.  This will be the last baby belly my body will see.  Our family is finally complete.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mini Goldfish

This little fishy has moved up to the "I swim all by myself class" and it's been a bit of a rough road. Allie cried pretty much the whole first class she attended. It took every bit of me to not go in there and save my screaming baby. The second class she cried for about 15 minutes of her 30 minute class and the third class only 7 minutes. It's getting better, but Allie is deathly afraid of going under water. She hasn't mastered that skill just yet and refuses to put her face anywhere near the water.

A couple weeks ago however, we made a little bit of progress.  Allie received her very first ribbon for blowing bubbles in the water.  YEAH!!!  Big accomplishment. 

 

 

 

Todd took Allie to Toys R Us to buy her a fun pair of goggles and a pack of super cool Sofia stickers to have after each class as a little incentive. Keeping our fingers crossed that Allie will start to enjoy swim lessons again.

No Labor this Labor Day

Our labor day was NOT spent in labor...unfortunately!

 

 

 

As much as I don't want to feel labor pains...I am more than ready today to have this baby meet his new parents and big sissy.  Last night I started having some minor contractions here and there.  I was sort of...kind of hoping that I would be making my way to the hospital for a labor day baby.  Even though it would have been a HUGE inconvenience to not be starting the school year on Tuesday with my new kiddos.  However, I woke up in the morning with my big round belly still attached to my non-existent abs (that I do hope to see again real soon here).  This baby will be here before we know it!  I figured if I wanted to capture any more shots of this baby belly before it is gone forever, I better do it today.

 

Ninth Month of Pregnancy

Weight Gain?  17 pounds

Sleep?  Seems to be the only relief I get.  All day long I feel tons of pressure, but when I lay down...awww.  So much better.  However I still have to get up to go to the bathroom a few times at night.   

Movement?  Lots and lots!  Sometimes it's even painful when I get a kick in my rib or bladder.  Todd and Allie can see my belly move too.

Food Cravings?  No...no more room in there for my stomach.

What's Making Me Queasy?  Nothing.

Symptoms? EVERYTHING!  Tons of pressure (I feel like he's about to fall out sometimes).  Shooting pains in my back.  Numbness in my legs. I can't breathe because my lungs don't have enough space.  I'm waddling...I feel like a duck!

Mood?   Crabby...because I can't get back up when sitting on the floor, it's been super humid lately, and I can feel my skin stretching...OUCH!

Looking Forward to...  LABOR!  Ha, ha!  How bad does that sound???  All the pains are coming flooding back to me, but I'm ready to have my body back (for the most part).  The doctor says I'm measuring small but the baby is a good normal size...that just means he likes to stay in and not come out (he's pretty much taking over all the space that is supposed to be for my organs...no big deal - I don't need to eat, or breathe).

Best Moment of the Month?  Allie giving my belly a hug and a kiss almost every day.  She is SOOOO sweet and already loves this little guy. Let's just hope he loves her as much as she loves him. 

Love This Girl

I just can't get enough of her. This little sweetheart has become the most affectionate thing this summer. I'll turn around and there she is under my feet with her little arms reaching around my legs to give me a squeeze. Or, I will be in the middle of something and these two tiny hands are tickling my belly, smiling, and talking to her baby brother (in utero). Allie loves to snuggle before bed...so much that she never wants to go to bed. We lay and talk on her giant bean bag about all the days adventures.  I really hope that my little love bug never changes. In 10 years will my 13 year old teen still want to cuddle with her mamma?  I better cherish ever itsy bitsy hug and kiss I can collect from my Allie girl these days. Love her!

Sleeping Beauty

When summer began about two months ago, Allie started staying up past her usual bedtime of 8:00.  Her summer bedtime in 9:00, but by the time she falls asleep...it's usually closer to 10:00.  Many, many nights Allie wanders into our room and lays down on her "other" bed (her sleeping bag) and will go right back to sleep without disturbing anyone.  UNLESS she has to go to the bathroom...which is usually at least once a night.  Her Pull-Up is dry most mornings.  It's so GREAT that she recognizes when she needs to go...however, she needs someone to go with her at 2:00 am...and that someone is a back aching pregnant mamma that can't roll out of bed (literally).

Because I'm up here and there in the middle of the night, I've gotten lazy and sleep in a bit longer.  As long as I'm sleeping...Allie will continue to sleep.  Some mornings we get up close to 9:00.  This is going to be a problem when school starts.  Neither of us are going to be morning people. 

Fun at the Amusement Park

After dinner at Auntie's house, Allie and Jenna headed to Conneaut Park to with Auntie, Todd and I.  Who doesn't love the amazement park?!?!  A pregnant momma who can't ride anything. Oh well...I had just as much fun watching my Allie girl take a turn or few on the rides. She was a little apprehensive at first, but by the end of the night Allie had ridden on half a dozen rides a few times each. Her favorites included the boats and cars. Wheeeee!