39 weeks

Well, I am officially more pregnant than I have ever been!  Elsa was born on the exact day I hit 39 weeks during my first pregnancy... and today I am 39 weeks + 1 day.  :)  (Although granted, I think we did a bit to "nudge along" the labor process that first time around... we were very anxious to meet our first little one.)  Wonder when Ava will make her appearance?  We are certainly anxious to meet her too, don't get me wrong... we're just more aware of what will change once that day comes and trying to soak up the sleep while we can.

Can you tell whether she has "dropped"?  I can't.

Weeks:  39+

Baby:  Ava could be anywhere between 6-9 lbs.  Her weight (and mine) are supposedly going to level off a bit from here on.  But me and my pals Ben & Jerry might have something to say about that. ;)

Weight:  161.8 lbs.  (+26.5 lbs)  

Maternity clothes?  YES.  And I've had to box up most of those too... because most of them no longer fit me.  Elsa has become very helpful in pulling down my shirts when my belly starts to peek out.

Stretch marks?  Nooo???  (I'll let you know officially after she's born.)

Favorite moment of the week: Lots!  For one thing, our home is clean inside and out, thanks to some help from a professional house-cleaner and our landscaping buddy, Jay Skinner.  This satisfies a deep urge within me to have my surroundings ordered and free of dust before Ava arrives.  Other highlights of this week include the arrival of my 2015 recipe calendar (It looks awesome this year! And I finished it early... yay for nesting!) and spending some time with my brother and sister-in-law in Searcy over the weekend.

Miss anything?  Lying comfortably on my back.  It will be sooo nice to resume that.  And getting through a day without needing to take 6+ shots of baking soda water to calm my raging heartburn.

Movement:  Yes. :)  At this point in the game, she's so big that the movements can look pretty hilarious at times.

Cravings?  Not really.  I'm just eating pretty normally.

Anything make you queasy or sick?  Nope!

Gender:   GIRL.

Labor signs:  There have been lots of contractions over the last two weeks, pretty frequent but all very mild.  I was surprised when the doctor told me last Thursday that I was dilated to about a 2.  (I had certainly felt no indication of things progressing.)  Although since the weekend, I've definitely felt an increased sense of pressure in my pelvis.  I've been taking it reeeeally easy, in hopes of making it to October because we hoped for Ava to be an October baby!  Now that it's October, I'm going to resume my regular level of activity and see what happens.

Symptoms:  Heartburn, achy joints, and the feeling that my insides are going to fall out when I sit down on the toilet because everything is so "open" down there.  (Pardon the over-share.)  And of course, the contractions.

Belly button in or out?  Out!

Wedding rings on or off?  On!

Looking forward to:  If we make it to tomorrow night, we have a date night planned.!  Elsa is going to spend the night at her grandparents and Chris and I are going to one of our favorite restaurants.  I'd really like to go on our date, so I'd like to decline to have my cervix checked at my doctor appointment tomorrow morning (just to keep from inducing any contractions)... but I get the sense he's going to want to know where we stand as far as my progress.  On the downside, if we are able to get through tomorrow and go on our date, then Ava might be born over the weekend and I'm betting my doctor would not be the one to deliver her in that case.  I'd really like for him to be there, but we'll see.

Freak-out moment of the week: We were all pretty nervous that Ava would be born last weekend, when my in-laws were out of town.  I had even noticed an increased feeling of pressure in my pelvis, like I mentioned before.  So I started taking it reeeeally easy in hopes that we could hold her off til they got back in town (since they're planning to watch Elsa for us while we're at the hospital.)

Thankful for: The continued safety and health of our new little one!  We're in the final stretch and just SO thankful she's done well the entire time.  It is a blessing we don't take lightly.

38 Weeks!

I'm not feeling like filling out my little bumpdate form this week... but I don't want to let 38 weeks pass me by without recording a few thoughts.  Afterall, we're so close to Ava's arrival, I get the feeling I'll want to remember things about these last few weeks.

So let's see.  This week I've noticed numerous contractions.  They happen throughout the day, 20-30 minutes apart usually... and closer together when I'm doing something active like my Jane Fonda videos. :)  But none of them have been intense or painful, just frequent.  I also haven't noticed any significant "dropping."  I still feel plenty of pokes in the ribs and my bump seems pretty well-balanced.  And no intense pelvic pressure yet, other than what I've had all three trimesters.

I went in today for my 38 week OB visit.  And although I had preferred to wait another week before having him check my cervix, I decided to go ahead and get checked today.  We'd really love Ava to be born in October, and sometimes a pelvic exam can induce labor... so that's why I preferred to wait at least til next week.  But I could tell the doctor seemed to prefer that we go ahead and do a pelvic exam today (maybe because of all these contractions I've been having), so I just asked that he keep it very gentle and be sure not to strip my membranes or anything.  Anyway, turns out I'm dilated nearly to 2 centimeters and about 50-60% effaced!  That's more than I expected, considering that none of my contractions have been painful and Ava still feels nice and high.  But cool!

We've packed a few last minute plans into this weekend because I'm aware that Ava could be here any minute and that that will halt our busy schedule for awhile.  Tomorrow, I'm hosting play group at our house, since I'll probably be taking a break from the rotation for awhile after Ava's born.  Then in the evening, we will head to Searcy to spend tonight and tomorrow with my brother and sister-in-law.  And then on Sunday, we'll hopefully enjoy a visit from our out-of-town friends, the Howards.  Beth is graciously donating some of her pumped breastmilk to Ava's cause.  I'm soooo thankful!

Speaking of feeding Ava, the homemade vs. storebought formula saga continues.  Our pediatrician was/is very opposed to the raw milk recipe I wanted to use (citing the risk for bacterial infection)... and the herd share group we had joined in order to obtain our raw milk turned out to be very opposed to our being in the group after they found out we had disclosed to our doctor and to the Glowing Study our plans to feed Ava raw milk (citing the risk to themselves and their farmer from militant anti-raw-milk persons/groups who could potentially go after them with any number of unfounded legal allegations, set fire to the barn where the cows reside, etc etc.  Apparently that kind of stuff actually happens...?)  So after I had heard our pediatrician's stance and spent an anxious week researching, praying, and weighing all the pros and cons, I had decided it was still important to me to make Ava's formula from raw milk.  And then the herd share group kicked us out.  Suffice it to say I was quite emotional about the whole ordeal... (Talk about adding insult to injury... we felt opposed on all sides, and pretty unfairly treated, to be honest.)

So now, although there are other ways we could go about obtaining raw milk, they would be quite a bit more money and trouble... not to mention it would still mean acting in direct defiance of our pediatrician's preference.  So my newest finding is this formula.  It contains probiotics, something not one single solitary U.S. brand of formula includes... and one of the best things your breastmilk provides baby! (America, when it comes to baby formula options... you kinda suck.)  I'm waiting to hear back from our pedi as to whether she thinks this formula is suitable, since it's a UK-based brand.

Alrighty, so I think that covers the updates for this week!  Here's a pic I took last Friday (which technically makes it a 37 1/2 week picture, not 38, but close enough.)

37 Weeks

Weeks:  37- Fully full-term and just waiting for Ava to decide it's time to make her debut.

Baby:  Ava could be anywhere from 6-7 lbs right now.  She's head-down and kicking happily and pretty much minding her own business at the moment.

Weight:  159.6  (+24.3 lbs)  

Maternity clothes?  Yes!  And these days I'm wearing a lot of the same thing over and over.

Stretch marks?  So... technically I'd say no.  But non-technically, I'd definitely say my skin is a bit blotchy from all the stretching.  My belly is also quite pink a lot of the time (as if I'm sunburned, but I'm not.)  I guess that's from the stretching too?

Favorite moment of the week: Chris and I had a really fun date night on Tuesday.  We shopped for baby stuff (a few cute pairs of shoes, a wearable baby carrier, and a bottle warmer), and then we shopped for snacks to take with us to the hospital, and also a charm to represent Ava on my charm bracelet.  After that we had a nice dinner.  I really enjoyed that evening!  Also a highlight of the week was Saturday.  Our church ladies hosted a really wonderful Brunch/Baby Shower for us. I had a delightful time and felt very loved and honored.

Miss anything?  Clothing options.  I feel pretty limited these days.

Movement:  Yes! Plenty! 

Cravings?  A nightly bowl of cereal is a must.  Also sometimes I really wish I could have multiple cups of coffee a day... but don't we all?  And donuts are another personal fave of mine.  I usually treat myself to a couple after each of my OB/GYN visits, since the office is right by Dunkin' Donuts.  (And it's kinda nice because lately my appointments are every week, so that means donuts every week too!)

Anything make you queasy or sick?  The heartburn can get pretty severe sometimes.

Gender:   Girl!

Labor signs:  Things have been pretty quiet. Any contractions I do get are very mild, and I don't get the sense that baby has "dropped" significantly.  And I don't know whether I'm dilated or effaced at all.  I might go ahead and have the doc check my cervix at next week's visit, if I'm feeling curious.  But as of now, baby's still baking.

Symptoms:  I already mentioned heartburn.  And I'm glad to report that the plantar facciitis was short-lived (Praise!)  But my newest ailment is a severely pulled groin muscle.  Ow ow ow ow ow!  I don't remember any inciting incident that would've caused it... I just woke up one day and had this excruciating pain in my muscle there.  Awesome.  So I'm trying to take it easy but still squeeze in mild daily workouts so that my body is prepped and ready for natural childbirth.  (Squats are really key in preparing for birth... they help open up the hips and birth canal.)

Belly button in or out?  Out!

Wedding rings on or off?  On :)  I'm grateful that swelling is one thing I haven't dealt with during either pregnancy.

Mood:  Pretty good, I'd say!

Looking forward to:  Ava's birth!  Of course I know it'll be the end of this chapter where life is fairly easy with only one kid to deal with.  But still, it's fun to inch closer and closer to her birthday and wonder how it'll all go down.  Oh and also I'm looking forward to our hospital stay!  I know that sounds absolutely crazy... but to me, the idea of being allowed to lay in bed for a day, surrounded by air conditioning, with all our fun snacks to choose from, and no toddler to entertain... almost sounds like a little vacation. Haha!  Crazy, I know.

Freak-out moment of the week: I've been pretty anxious about whether I'm making the right decision about feeding Ava.  Some of you know I'd like to make homemade formula for her.  I believe very strongly in the positive benefits of breast milk, and it saddens me so much that I can't provide that to our children.  So I've read that raw cow's milk formula can provide a similar immune advantage to children and help supply them with beneficial probiotics to promote a lifetime of better health.  I believe so strongly in the power of our diets to do what medicine often cannot!  But on the flip-side of the coin, our kids' pediatrician is strongly opposed to my feeding Ava any raw milk due to the potential for bacterial infection.  I've read research papers out the wazoo, and there are smart people on both sides of the issue.  Additionally, the orthodox medical community is adamant that there is no sound research to support the claims that raw milk is beneficial for children in preventing disorder and disease... but I believe that is because the U.S. has so effectively banned any type of formal research from ever taking place that the benefits cannot be well-documented.  I've considered that we are in a uniquely helpful situation in that Ava's nutrition/development will be closely monitored because of her participation in the Glowing Study, so that is reassuring to me.  If I decide to go ahead and make our formula, I will have the advantage of knowing that she is being evaluated often to insure she is developing well and getting all the proper nutrients, etc.  But still, I'm torn and I need prayers to arrive at a decision I feel at peace with.

Thankful for: The community surrounding us.  In-laws who love to watch Elsa while I go to doctor's appointments, and who I know will take great care of her while we're at the hospital.  Church friends who love us enough to host a baby shower for us and pray for us as we make hard decisions about feeding, etc.  Fellow mommies in our little town.  I feel so blessed to have good people in our lives.

36 Weeks

Weeks:  36 - Generally speaking, the baby is considered full-term at this point, meaning that she will be fine if delivered at any time from here on.  Yay!  I'm majorly relieved because I've had this sick feeling all along that she was going to be premature.

Baby:  Ava feels like she is HUGE.  Measuring right on track though, so she's probably in the neighborhood of 6 1/2 lbs.  After this week, the measurements they take at the doctor's office become less reliable because she'll start to drop further and further into my pelvis.  Sounds comfy, doesn't it?

Weight:  157.8  (+22.5 lbs)  The goal my nutrition coach and I set for my upcoming Glowing visit (which is this Thursday) was 157, and I'm pretty excited/astonished that I managed that, considering what a decadent Babymoon weekend we had.  I realize most women would not care two hoots about this small victory... but I'm very goal-oriented and it feels good to my brain when things go just as planned, haha. 

Maternity clothes?  Yes.  And lots of pajamas.

Stretch marks?  Still resisting, it seems.

Favorite moment of the week: I got a prenatal massage this weekend and it truly made a huge difference.  I've noticed a LOT more aches and pains with this pregnancy compared to my first one (some rather severe)... and the day of my massage I just felt like a different woman!

Miss anything?  Sleeping on my back... I haven't mentioned that one yet, but it's a biggie.  I really enjoy that position, but currently when I lie that way I feel like a 20 pound watermelon is resting on my stomach (which, it so happens, is exactly the case.)

Movement:  Yep!

Cravings?  Reese's Puffs.  Aren't they delicious?  I've always known that is a tasty cereal, but had no trouble resisting it before.  But here lately, I crave it almost nightly.  I also consume a LOT of bread (usually toasted with peach jam, or toasted with tomatoes and cream cheese.)  I don't know if that one is a craving or just something I like.  Also, ice... always.

Anything make you queasy or sick?  Sometimes the heartburn is bad enough that I feel like I'm going to be sick.

Gender:   Girl!

Labor signs:  My "Braxton Hicks" have at times felt more intense than just "practice" contractions... but only barely.  So I'm sure that's a sign that my body's just getting closer to the Big Day!  But there haven't been any major signs other than that.  And I've been declining to have my cervix checked at my last two appointments, so I have no idea whether I'm dilated yet.

Symptoms:  Here's a new one: ever heard of plantar facciitis?  It's pain in your heel... kinda feels like you're stepping on a marble.  It can spring up very spontaneously sometimes when the tissue of your foot becomes inflamed, and it totally stinks!  Anyway, I felt fine on Wenesday, and then within an hour that evening I couldn't put weight on my left foot.  Apparently it happens to pregnant women sometimes because the hormone relaxin can cause your arches to fall.  I've been wearing an Ace wrap on my left foot for added support.  Very high-fashion.

Belly button in or out?  OUT.

Wedding rings on or off?  On :)

Mood:  Stressed.  Moving my food blog over from Bluehost to InMotion has been a bumpy process (to put it very mildly.)  I've had to spend a lot of time doing things I don't enjoy, like sitting on hold with Tech Support.  Please join me in praying that all these kinks are worked out and behind me by the time Ava arrives!

Looking forward to:  This Saturday, some friends from church are throwing us a baby shower.  AND it's a Brunch.  So of course, I am stoked!

Freak-out moment of the week: Sunday night.  The absolute low-point of the blog transition saga.  I think I actually told Chris the stress was going to give me a miscarriage.

Thankful for: Today Chris had a day off, no surgeries scheduled!  I love making sweet memories with Elsa on days like this.  These are very good times. :)

35 Weeks

Weeks:  35!!! (Almost full-term... I will feel so much relief when next week is here.)

Baby:  Ava is an estimated 5-6 lbs right now.  She's still head-down and everything is nearly developed!   She just needs a little longer for her lungs to finish up, and then she'll be good to go!  I start seeing the OBGYN every week from this point on.

Weight:  156.4  (+21.1 lbs)   Exactly the same as last Tuesday... 

Maternity clothes?  Yes, and I feel like I'm exploding out of everything.  Chris is sweet and encouraging saying that he likes when everything is too tight on me.  I can't say it's my preference, but at least one of us is happy about it.

Stretch marks?  A few hints, but nothing complaint-worthy.  She's still growing though, so there's still time! I'm not ruling it out.

Favorite moment of the week: This week Elsa's prayers have been taken to the "next" level, haha! She used to just say, "Thankoo God for loving uuuuuuus" over and over and over.  This week she has said things like, "Thank you for our blessings.  Thank you for our church. Thank you for making Mrs. Mary's knee feel better."  Chris and I can't help but look at each other with these stupidly-excited faces, which she can see because she always has her eyes open... so we try to remain solemn and just reflect about it later, but it's hard not to react in amazement in the moment!

Miss anything?  My old clothes.  I'm missing lots of outfit options I currently cannot wear... I'm pretty limited right now.

Movement:  Yep!  Lovin' that, as always.  A few kicks have actually been painful though, which I don't remember happening with Elsa.  Ava has just been a more aggressive mover all around.

Cravings?  This week is the most "pregnant" I have felt as far as cravings go.  I'll be dying for some Reese's Puff cereal... and then two minutes later I'm totally not interested.  Weird!

Anything make you queasy or sick?  The smell of poultry cooking.  I think I've avoided this common pregnancy-nose trigger because we've been eating a mostly vegan diet for quite a while now.  I rarely cook meat at home anymore.  (Still eat it when it's offered... just don't buy and cook it on my own.)  So this is the first week in a long time that I've been around the smell of cooking chicken and I've gotta say, it was a little problematic for me.  Turkey has the same effect.

Gender:   Girly girl.

Labor signs:  Lots of Braxton Hicks this week.

Symptoms:  I still experience shooting pain in my tailbone area (worse after extended sitting or standing.)  I'm super excited because I am having a 90-minute pregnancy massage this weekend as part of our Babymoon Getaway!

Belly button in or out?  OUT.

Wedding rings on or off?  On :)

Mood:  I've been rather stressed.  Some of it has to do with feeling huge and uncomfortable, and some of it has to do with the extra work time I've been having to put in for my food blog (I'm changing hosting services because it was getting to the point where my blog would be out of service almost every day.... which is the biggest annoyance ever because it means calling and sitting on hold with tech support while your readers get an error screen and your traffic numbers plummet.)  So yeah, I'm making some changes that I hope will pay off, but the extra time spent on that is a burden for me.

Looking forward to:  Like I need to say it... Babymoon Weekend!  We're gonna enjoy good food, lots of good relax time, and that massage I told you about.  I'm so pumped!  (And this week even feels shorter because Monday was Labor Day, so it's almost here!)

Freak-out moment of the week: Yesterday- big disagreement with Chris.  It was not something I would place fault on either of us for... just one of those areas where men and women see things very differently and it causes a clash.

Thankful for: The joys God has placed in my life.  It's like I'm hyper-aware of them after experiencing some very painful losses, especially in the last year.  I can't seem to thank Him enough for my sweet husband, my little girl, and our healthy baby on the way.

34 Weeks (!?!)

Weeks:  34

Baby:  Ava is doing great!  We actually cheated and scheduled an extremely random ultrasound at the last minute (went in this morning!)  We were just dying to see her again. :)  So I'm happy to announce the Ava is head-down and facing my back... which is ideal conditions for labor.  With any luck, she'll stay that way.  Here's a little photo of her great-looking, downward-facing head...

Weight:  156.4  (+21.1 lbs)   This week was a doozy, I gained 3 lbs in one week!  That's a record!  Hope it's not an indicator of the kind of gain I can expect during the next 6 more, or things could get pretty darn uncomfortable...

Maternity clothes?  Yes.  And I'm even bursting out of some of those.  If only the weather would cool down, I could switch over to my roomier Fall stuff.

Stretch marks?  Still debatable.

Favorite moment of the week: No huge highlights this last week.  It was very busy for me... in fact I'd say I over-committed a bit.  So to be honest, my favorite part was probably grocery shopping on Saturday.  I always feel a sense of accomplishment when I manage to come in under budget and get everything we need for the week ahead.

Miss anything?  My general joint comfort (more detail below.)  I definitely miss that!

Movement:  Yes!  She lets me know regularly that she's in there and doing well, Praise God!

Cravings?  Ice is the most major one.  Otherwise I feel like my eating preferences are pretty normal for me.

Anything make you queasy or sick?  No :)

Gender:   GIRL!  I can say it confidently since we checked for the third time today, haha!

Labor signs:  Seems like the Braxton Hicks have slowed down a bit.  I don't know why that would be, but I've definitely felt them less these last two weeks since my last update.

Symptoms:  Lawdy Lawdy... my poor sacro-coccygeal region!  (We have my brainy husband to thank for that term.)  Basically I am referring to the area just to the left of my tailbone, which randomly protests with shooting pains whenever I have the audacity to put weight on my left leg, make any remotely sudden movements, or try to lie down.  Most of the time my walk looks more like a limp, which is just sooo glamorous.  Other than that, heartburn.

Belly button in or out?  Out!  I think outies are cute. :)

Wedding rings on or off?  On!

Mood:  Wooooeee, don't ask!  (Of course, I think my pregnancy woes are only partly to blame.  The other half of the equation has to do with blogging stresses such as finding an affordable supplier for my 2015 calendar, finding a way to sell it online that doesn't completely eat up whatever margin of profit I might be able to squeak out... and server issues making my site un-reachable about half the time.)

Looking forward to:  Having the calendar finished before Ava is born!  (See what I did there?  The power of positive thinking.)  Also our babymoon getaway in two weekends. :)

Freak-out moment of the week: Today might just take the cake.  Elsa had a very "2-year-old" morning where she did not want to do ANYthing if mommy and daddy were the ones suggesting it, and the circumstances with my blog certainly did not help my mood.

Thankful for: Chris having today off work!  It allowed us the special time to go in for Ava's spur-of-the-moment ultrasound.  And although Elsa really struggled during every other part of the day... she was quite well-behaved and enthralled during the actual ultrasound and got to see Baby Ava and hear her heartbeat, which was very special.

32 Weeks and counting...

Confession Time:  I confess that I sometimes (ok... often) take my bumpdate pics on days other than my actual "weekly marker" so that I can take advantage of a cute outfit or good hair day.  Anyway, today was NOT one of those days, because apparently this week is NOT one of those weeks.  (I've had no cause to spiff up whatsoever... how sad is that?)  Hence my "au natural" photo below...

Weeks:  32 :)

Baby:  Ava weigh about 4 lbs (that amazes me!... It's getting so real.)

Weight:  152.6  (+17.3 lbs)  

Maternity clothes?  Yes.  And I feel like I'm bursting out of them most of the time.

Stretch marks?  Questionable.

Favorite moment of the week: Capturing this moment on Instagram.  (Chris had Tuesday off and we did a few fun activities as a family... which was awesome!)  Oh and last Thursday we celebrated Elsa's 2nd birthday and had a wonderful time.

Miss anything?  Oddly, today I missed running.  I cut it out of my exercise regimen very early this pregnancy because it just wasn't comfortable.  But I do really enjoy the free feeling of running, especially in the Fall weather.  Not sure when I'll have the stamina (and bladder control) to pick it back up again.  For now, I'm sticking with good ol' Jane Fonda.  I love that gal!

Movement:  Ava is such a mover.  I love watching it from the outside!  But sometimes it definitely gives me that roller-coaster feeling that my internal organs are being shuffled around.

Cravings?  Ice ice, baby.

Anything make you queasy or sick?  Not really... I just have to make sure I don't get too hungry.  But that usually makes me more light-headed than queasy.

Gender:   Girl... as far as we know :)  (Kidding, we're pretty sure about that.)

Labor signs:  So my Braxton Hicks contractions are getting excessive... Yesterday I had about 6 within the first hour of waking, and that general pattern continued for about three hours until I finally came home and lie down on the couch for awhile (like 4 hours.)   I ended up napping and they finally tapered off during the late afternoon.  I went ahead and left a message for my OB's nurse because they said to call if I notice more than 4 per hour.  Haven't heard back yet, but I imagine they'll just tell me to take it easy and hydrate if it happens again.

Symptoms:  Lots of Braxton Hicks, general aches, and the sensation that my stomach is going to pop open! (Especially after meals, haha!)

Belly button in or out?  Out. :)  It doesn't bother me though.  I like outies!

Wedding rings on or off?  On

Mood:  Pretty decent, I'd say!

Looking forward to:  I've arranged some special "professional development" time for myself.  (Aka: two days where I can focus on the maintenance side of the Pretty/Hungry blog, instead of just keeping up with my cooking, photographing, and posting schedule.  My mother-in-law will be keeping Elsa.)  I'm looking forward to some extended work time to start knocking out the items on my to-do list.  I intend to treat those days like a bit of a "work retreat"... a sort of vacation from my "day job" mothering Elsa, even though this will be another kind of work.  

Freak-out moment of the week: I admit it made me a little anxious to be having so many contractions yesterday, even though they were irregular, short, and barely painful.  I just have this worry that Ava's going to be premature and I don't want that!  Early is fine.  Preemie... scares me.

Thankful for: My mother-in-law and her willingness to take care of Elsa for us so frequently.  Having family close by is such a blessing.  (We said a tearful goodbye to Elsa's "Auntie Mowl and Uncle James" this weekend... they're getting settled into their new home in New Orleans.)